How Computers Work: Computational Thinking for Everyone

TL;DR

This paper describes a course designed to introduce students with basic algebra and writing experience to the core concepts of computation and digital logic, fostering computational thinking and problem-solving skills.

Contribution

It presents a practical course framework that effectively teaches computational thinking to non-programmers, emphasizing logic, digital circuits, and data management.

Findings

Students gained foundational understanding of digital logic.

The course successfully engaged students with diverse interests.

It fostered problem-solving and computational thinking skills.

Abstract

What would you teach if you had only one course to help students grasp the essence of computation and perhaps inspire a few of them to make computing a subject of further study? Assume they have the standard college prep background. This would include basic algebra, but not necessarily more advanced mathematics. They would have written a few term papers, but would not have written computer programs. They could surf and twitter, but could not exclusive-or and nand. What about computers would interest them or help them place their experience in context? This paper provides one possible answer to this question by discussing a course that has completed its second iteration. Grounded in classical logic, elucidated in digital circuits and computer software, it expands into areas such as CPU components and massive databases. The course has succeeded in garnering the enthusiastic attention of students with a broad range of interests, exercising their problem solving skills, and introducing them to computational thinking.