Algorithmic Thinking in Primary Schools

Technological advances have changed the ways we work, learn, and play. For today’s students to take full advantage of the opportunities these technologies afford, a set of ways of thinking, that mirror how computers function, are increasingly pervasive in schools. These include a thinking skill called algorithmic thinking that can be seen to be comprised of four key areas:

• Design thinking

• Decomposition

• Pattern recognition

• Abstraction

These four skills are used in schools to engage learners in problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration. They offer opportunities for learning across the curriculum. Algorithmic thinking activities can be seen in written maths problems, in historical research, in text analysis, and in the evaluation of art products. Current research suggests that engaging students in algorithmic thinking in their early schooling can open doors for them as adults entering the workplace (Deloitte Access Economics 2017).

As technological change continues to...