# Computational Thinking in Patch

## TL;DR

This paper introduces Patch, a visual language designed to help students develop computational thinking skills by expressing solutions to scientific problems through abstract visual tools, bridging high-level programming and ease of use.

## Contribution

The paper presents Patch, a new visual language that combines the power of high-level programming languages with simplicity, fostering computational thinking in students.

## Key findings

- Patch enables students to express solutions visually.
- Patch balances simplicity and expressive power.
- Patch is suitable for teaching computational thinking.

## Abstract

With the future likely to see even more pervasive computation, computational thinking (problem-solving skills incorporating computing knowledge) is now being recognized as a fundamental skill needed by all students. Computational thinking is conceptualizing as opposed to programming, promotes natural human thinking style than algorithmic reasoning, complements and combines mathematical and engineering thinking, and it emphasizes ideas, not artifacts. In this paper, we outline a new visual language, called Patch, using which students are able to express their solutions to eScience computational problems in abstract visual tools. Patch is closer to high level procedural languages such as C++ or Java than Scratch or Snap! but similar to them in ease of use and combines simplicity and expressive power in one single platform.