Webinars
Webinar / Mathematics for Global Challenges: Lessons Learned from International Mathematics Educators
Tuesday, September 14, 2021
7:00— 8:00 p.m. EST via Zoom
Incorporating Computational Thinking in the Elementary Mathematics Curriculum
Part 1 in the 2021-2022 webinar series,“Mathematics for Global Challenges: Lessons Learned from International Mathematics Educators”
Hosted by the U.S. National Commission on Mathematics Instruction—National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Speakers:
Webinar Description:
The term ‘computational thinking’ is appearing with greater frequency in mathematics curricula around the globe, and now for the first time, in the PISA mathematics assessment. The content of this relatively new topic was recommended over ten years ago by computer scientists who suggested that it should be taught to equip students with future skills. Based on work in Europe and some Asian countries, the content of computational thinking is becoming clear and closely linked to mathematics. This session will illustrate through practical activities, some of the ways that computational thinking can be incorporated in our elementary school mathematics curriculum. The session will use examples from the different strands of mathematics where computational thinking has been recommended. The activities will focus on methods that can help students develop algorithms; work with simple spreadsheet functions; and follow, create, and debug flow charts.