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MSM Unit 1: Things Break Apart

This is the page for Making Sense of Models Unit 1: Things Break Apart.

What's Represented?

These exercises ask the learner to identify abstractions in the computer model as compared to a diagram or image of a natural phenomenon.

An Example of CT in the Workplace

This is an example of how a computer modeler uses various aspect of computational thinking while designing, creating and using a computer model as a tool to think with.

Introducción al modelado del clima

Documento base como introducción al modelado del clima. Habla sobre el sistema climático global como un sistema dinámico complejo; la diferencia entre tiempo y clima; los ciclos de retroalimentación en el sistema climático global, etc.
Fue extraído de “Mathematics of Climate Change: A new discipline for an uncertain century” una publicación del Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Matemáticas. Berkeley, CA 2007 y traducido al español.

Computational Science video

A short video (1:27) on the computational science cycle, used in Project GUTS CS in Science (Modules 2-4).

Workshop Planning Guide

A list of factors to consider for facilitators and school districts or partner organizations in planning a workshop.

Emergence video

A portion of a PBS NOVA video discussing the concept of emergence (or complex adaptive systems) where patterns emerge in nature where agents follow simple rules.

The Greenhouse Effect

A short video on the basics of the greenhouse effect, used in CS in Science, Module 2 (Greenhouse gas model).

My Robotic Friends (cups activity)

This is the cups activity by Thinkersmith (later part of Code.org)

Computational Thinking for Youth in Action (2011)

This is an early paper of Computational Thinking that has a lot of traction. It's where we first describe the Use-Modify-Create trajectory.

Dice and Data Activity for Virtual Instruction

Dice and Data Activity from Module 1 Lesson 4. Adapted for use in a synchronous instructional setting.

Assessing Youth's Computational Thinking (2011)

AERA conference proceedings 2011

Application of the Occupational Analysis of Computational Thinking-Enabled STEM Professionals as a Program Assessment Tool (2012)

Journal of Computational Science Education (2012)

Integrating Computational Thinking Across the K-8 Curriculum (2014)

ACM InRoads (2014)

Reclaiming the roots of CT (2016)

CSTA Voice 2016

Preparing STEM Teachers to offer Computer Science for All (2017)

ACM SIGCSE 2017

Profile of a CT Integration Specialist (2017)

Computational Thinking Education 2017 conference

Developing a framework for computational thinking from a disciplinary perspective (2018)

Proceedings of the International Conference on Computational Thinking
Education 2018. Hong Kong: The Education University of Hong Kong.

Trailblazers Activity for Virtual Instruction

The Trailblazers activity from Module 1 - Lesson 3 modified to be done in a synchronous virtual learning environment.

BCSC 5e Instructional Model

BSCS (Biological Sciences Curriculum Study) paper explaining the 5e instructional model. The model describes a teaching sequence that can be used for entire programs, specific units, and individual lessons. The BSCS 5E Instructional Model plays a significant role in the curriculum development process as well as the enactment of curricular materials in science classrooms.

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