COMPUTATIONAL & SYSTEMS THINKING
Thinking Skills such as Computational Thinking & Systems Thinking can be used to solve problems such as social, economic, political or educational problems. Each problem have their own challenges, criteria and constraints and each may involved a number of systems connected to. To solve the problem using the best solution, we need to understand the problem, the different systems involved with the problem, the procedures or approach/ steps taken to solve the problem.
Do some thinking to clarify the problem and think about the different possible solutions. We also need to get some more information about the context. Some prior tasks such as research and gathering of information/data to help come up with a more specific/appropriate approach to solve the problem.
Once we have gathered more information/data to help come up with a more specific potential solution, we can see that our initial problem statement now be reformulated with all of the details that include the information we just learnt from the research. All those information will be helpful in selecting the most appropriate solution to the given problem.
We can apply Computational thinking and Systems Thinking during the problem-solving process. Better understanding of the different systems involved with the problem will provide a better understanding or information for use in selected the best solution to the problem. Information about the different systems will also provide guide during the problem -solving process.
Computational thinking is is problem -solving process and is not just about thinking like a computer scientist or learning to code. We see and use computational thinking in many everyday places such;
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Organizing/planning an activity
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Organizing a meeting/workshop
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Mechanic fixing a rundown vehicle
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Cooking a special meal for your invited guest
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Explaining parts and functions of a machine such as a tractor
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Building a house
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Making a garden
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Doing a project
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Calculations
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Computer Programming
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and many more.....
Computational Thinking is not just about problem solving but also involves problem formulation.
There are four principles of computational thinking:
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Decomposition
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Pattern recognition
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Abstraction
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Algorithm design
Computational thinking incorporates characteristics such as abstraction, logically organizing data, and
data representation.
Shown below is the computational thinking approach to solve a problem. The approach or process is non-linear
Some problems can be performed in a linear manner but sometimes some of the problems can be performed in parallel or non-linear manner.
Sometimes sub-problems can be solved independently but sometimes you need the results of one sub-problem to solve the other sub-problem.
There is no single way/order to do this. they can be approach in a linear or parallel manner.
SYSTEMS THINKING
Systems thinking is a holistic approach to the identification and solving of problems, where parts and components of a system, their interactions and interrelationships are analyzed individually to see how they influence the functioning of the whole system. This approach enables us to understand systems and work with complexity, uncertainty, and risk (Arnold, R.D. & Wade, J.P. 2015).
​Rather than breaking problems down (decomposing) like in computational thinking, systems thinking requires us to identify connections.
Watch this short video about a system in Borneo
Click on the button below to see the concept or interaction map that illustrate the system and its interconnectedness in Borneo.
SOCIAL ISSUE WHICH INVOLVE COPUTATIONAL & SYSTEMS THINKING TO SOLVE
The problem above on prostitution is a social issue/problem that appeared on the front page of the National Newspaper titled “Sex Workers plea for help.”
How can this problem on Prostitution be solved? How can we use Thinking Skills to develop conceptual approach/solutions to the problem. The Thinking skills are not new which we have been using in our everyday life situations such as policy formulation, cooking, organizing workshops or activities such as Independence Day celebrations and many more.
How can we apply computational and systems thinking to solve this social problem?
That means we need to be creative, critical and vigilant to approach sensitive/important issues or problems even if it means taking risks
We apply the four principles of computational thinking:
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Decomposition
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Pattern recognition
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Abstraction
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Algorithm design
However, be mindful when breaking the problem down (decomposing) as systems thinking requires us to identify connections within the different systems the problem is connected with.
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Where and how can we use our Thinking Skills to solve this social problem???
To begin, let us identify in detail our challenge, criteria involved in the different systems that connects with the problem, need to also consider the constraints involved such as funding, corruption, economy, political issues etc..
We have a problem: Think about the potential solutions. We need to get more information about the problem before taking approaches in solving it. Do some thinking to clarify the problem and think about the solution. We also need to get some more information about the context.
We must do some prior tasks such as research and gathering of information/data to help us come up with a more specific/appropriate approach to solve the problem.
Once we have gathered more information/data to help us come up with a more specific potential solution, we can see that our initial problem statement can now be reformulated with all of the details that include the information we just learnt from the research.
We now have a large detailed problem that in a way starts to include smaller pieces that will be part of our solution.
It gives us more direction to the conceptual approach/solution to the problem then the initial stage of the problem.
To begin with finding alternative solution to this social problem, let us look at/identify/research some of the causes and effects of the social problem on prostitution by using the Problem Analysis Approach.
Most times we only consider the output of our activities/programs/projects/problems without really considering the outcome and impact when planning approaches to those activities, programs, projects or when solving a problem such as a social problem in our case.
Activities that allow for the development of students' Computational and Systems Thinking skills
There are two proposed activities provided that requires use of Computational and/or Thinking and Systems Thinking to solve. The activities are:
1. Chessboard Problem
2. Office activity which involves the installation of EQUITV equipment in East Sepik Province
Office activity which involves the installation of EQUITV equipment in East Sepik Province
PROBLEM: INSTALLATION OF EQUITV EQUIPMENT IN EAST SEPIK PROVINCE
Describing the problem
Installation of EQUITV equipment in East Sepik province(ESP) is part of the JICA project which supplied a total of 315 sets satellite equipment(solar & wind turbines) to the education department, E-Learning Division (ELD) to distribute and install in PNG remote schools who do not have access to electricity or power. Along with the equipment includes TV screens for schools to watch broadcast TV lessons produced by ELD.
315 schools have been selected based on that criteria and information/data within the department including information from the provincial education office. A fair decision was done during selection considering provinces, districts, LLGs so a total of 315 schools (15 schools per province for the 21 provinces) were selected based on fairness and geographical location.
Similar training and installations were done before by ELD when JICA project was with the department.
RESEARCH and DECOMPOSITION
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The main problem statement has been decomposed into smaller pieces so that we start focusing on the solution for those pieces, algorithms for those pieces. Start focusing on the Conceptual approach and algorithms for installation of EQUITV equipment in ESP.
When we look at the different algorithms separately as shown below, we start thinking about each algorithm separately and which algorithm should be solved first. Thinking of all the elements of our main problem and how to find solutions for those sub-problems.
PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION, DECOMPOSING, PATTERN RECOGNITION & ABSTRACTION
Then we turned those algorithms into specific set of instructions/steps/approach/procedures to follow in order to get the solution for the main problem.
Now we will turn the above algorithms into more specific set of instructions to follow to solve the main problem.
However, some problems can be performed in a linear manner but sometimes some of the problems can be performed in parallel or non-linear manner.
Some problems can be performed in a linear manner but sometimes some of the problems can be performed in parallel or non-linear manner.
Sometimes sub-problems can be solved independently but sometimes you need the results of one sub-problem to solve the other sub-problem.
There is no single way/order to do this. they can be approach in a linear or parallel manner.
However, we are also mindful that our problem is within a system that is a subsystem of a larger system.
With the given problem we took systems thinking in an holistic approach when identifying and solving the problem, where parts and components of a system, their interactions and interrelationships are analysed individually to see how they influence the functioning of the whole system. This approach enables us to understand systems and work with complexity, uncertainty, and risk (Arnold, R.D. & Wade, J.P. 2015).
When breaking the main problem down (decomposing) we also consider the connections within the different systems involved in this problem
During decomposition we make sure that we do not break these connections between subsystems or components but looked at it holistically.
Shown in the diagram below are the different systems involved or connected to the main of installation of EQUITV equipment in ESP.
