An Overview of Computational Thinking

Abstract

Computers and information technologies are increasingly becoming indispensable elements of our lives. Technological hardware and softwares are widely used in the field of education as well as in many fields such as engineering, business world, and health sector. In order to use these technologies efficiently, it is important for learners to understand the working logic of computers. One of the methods developed to achieve this is computational thinking. Although computational thinking is a relatively new concept, it is a rapidly developing concept. Computational thinking can be defined as a way of thinking that involves solving problems, designing systems, and making sense of human behavior using the basic concepts of computer science. The aim of this study is to discuss various dimensions of computational thinking with sources from the literature. In this context, firstly, the definitions of computational thinking were emphasized, and then information about the history and development process of computational thinking was given. The dimensions of computational thinking and the competencies related to computational thinking such as critical thinking, creative thinking, and algorithmic thinking are included. Finally, information is given about applications on computational thinking such as Google Education, Bebras, and Code.org.