Computational thinking involves problem formulation, pattern recognition, abstraction, and algorithm design. It is an important 21st century skill and countries are incorporating it into curricula. MOOCs can effectively deliver computational thinking education at scale. HKUST offers MOOCs on Java programming, app development, and engineering design that teach computational thinking concepts. Learning analytics provide insights into how students learn from MOOCs.

1. 1
Teaching and Learning
Computational Thinking at Scale
T.C. Pong
Senior Advisor to the Executive Vice-President & Provost
Director of Center for Engineering Education Innovation
Professor of Computer Science & Engineering
Hong Kong University of Science & Technology
9 June 2018

2. Outline
• What is computational thinking and
why is it important?
• How to broaden access to
computational thinking education?
• Using HKUST’s MOOCs for
delivering computational thinking at
scale
• Concluding remarks

3. My Lesson Learned as a
Computer Science Student
Think very carefully before
doing any actual coding!

4. My Lesson Learned as a
Computer Science Student
Fortran – My 1st programming language
Basic
Algol
Scheme
Prolog
Pascal
C / C++
Java
A programming language doesn’t solve
problems, it is the thought process behind
programming that formulates solution to
problems!

5. What is Computational Thinking?
• Computational thinking is the thought
processes involved in formulating a
problem and expressing its solution(s) in
such a way that a computer—human or
machine—can effectively carry out.
[Wikipedia, Wing 2014]

6. Four stages of
Computational Thinking
The four main stages of computational
thinking include:
• Problem formulation and
decomposition
• Pattern recognition and data
representation
• Problem abstraction
• Algorithm design

7. Changing Way of Life
Why is Computational
Thinking Important?

8. Changing Way of Life

9. Computational X

10. 21st Century Competencies & Skills
4 + 1 C’s 21st century skills:
• Critical thinking
• Creativity
• Communication
• Collaboration
• Computational thinking

11. Computational Thinking in
National Curriculum in England

12. Computer Science For All
Policy in the USA

13. CT becomes Compulsory in
China’s High School Curriculum

14. Australian’s Digital
Technologies Curriculum

15. Computational Thinking in
Singapore’s Smart Nation Initiative

16. National Singapore University
makes CT Compulsory

17. CoolThink@JC in Hong Kong

18. How to broaden access to
computational thinking education?
Need to deliver computational thinking
education to different groups of learners:
• Students at different levels:
– K-12
– College students, including UG and PG
– Adult learners
• Teachers and educators
• Parents and others

19. Using MOOCs for Delivering
Computational Thinking at Scale
HKUST offers the following MOOCs for
delivering computational thinking at
scale:
- Introduction to Java Programming
- Developing Android Apps with App
Inventor
- Cornerstone Engineering Design
Project

20. Massive Open Online Courses
A massive open online course (MOOC) is a
type of online course aimed at large-scale
participation and open access via the Internet.
• In addition to online video lectures, learners
are involved actively in the learning process
• MOOCs go beyond just offering courses and
content. Learning analytics allow us to
understand how students learn and how
teachers can improve their teaching.

21. MOOC Platforms
Major MOOC platforms:
– Coursera and edX in the US
– FutureLearn in the UK
– France Université Numérique (France Digital
University) in France
– Iversity in Germany
– Open2Study in Australia
– XuetangX & CNMOOC in China
– Ewant 磨課師 in Taiwan
– JMOOC in Japan
– KMOOC in Korea
– HKMOOC in Hong Kong

22. MOOC completion rates
HKUST’s MOOC Experience
Over 1,000,000 learners have registered
for 40 MOOCs offered by HKUST

23. MOOC on edX:
Introduction to Java Programming

24. edX: 10 Most Popular
Courses in 2016

25. Top edX Courses in 2017

26. 27
Introduction to Java Programming:
Demographic Distribution

27. Top Students from COMP102x
Top Students with almost perfect scores

28. Four stages of
Computational Thinking
The four main stages of computational
thinking include:
• Problem formulation and
decomposition
• Pattern recognition and data
representation
• Problem abstraction
• Algorithm design

29. Formulate a well-defined Problem:
• A well-defined problem means that
– a solution exists for the problem
– an unambiguous solution can be found in a finite
number of steps
• Examples:
– 1 x 2 + 3
– 1 + 2 x 3
Is the problem statement “Finding the best way to
travel from Hong Kong to London” a well-defined
problem?
Problem Formulation and Decomposition
1 + (2 x 3) = 7
(1 + 2) x 3 = 9

30. Formulate a well-defined Problem:
Is the problem statement “Finding the best way to
travel from Hong Kong to London” a well-defined
problem?
• How do you define best? (Fastest, Cheapest)
• Any limitations? (Preferred mode of
transportation)
• Any ambiguous definitions? (London)
Problem Formulation and Decomposition

33. 2D Square Apple Problem
Starting from the middle
cell, would it be possible
for the worm to finish
eating all the apples?
Rules:
 The worm can only
move into another cell
that shares a common
wall; and
 a cell that has not been
previously visited.
Problem Representation and
Pattern Recognition

34. Start state
Problem Representation and
Pattern Recognition

35. Goal state
Start state
Problem Representation and
Pattern Recognition

36. 3D Square Apple Problem
Problem Representation and
Pattern Recognition

37. Problem Representation and
Pattern Recognition

38. Would it be possible for the worm
to finish eating through all the 27
apples?
1) Yes
2) No
3) Not sure
Question

39. Problem Representation and
Pattern Recognition

40. Problem Representation and
Pattern Recognition

41. Problem Representation and
Pattern Recognition

42. Use the new representation and discuss
with your classmate to come up with a
solution again to the following question:
Would it be possible for the worm to
finish eating through all the 27 apples?
1) Yes
2) No
3) Not Sure
Question

43. Importance of
Problem Representation
2D square apple:
• There are 5 red apples and 4 green
apples
• Every move will be restricted to going
between apples of different colors
• If one starts from a green apple, there
would be no more green apple after
consuming the 4th red apple

44. 3D square apple:
• There are 14 red apples and 13 green apples
The problem shows the importance of finding
the right representation before solving a
problem!
Using the same argument as in
the 2D case, if one starts from a
green apple, there would be no
more green apple after finishing
the 13th red apple.
Importance of
Problem Representation

45. Can the dominos cover all the cells on the 8x8 board?
You may assume that there are enough dominos.
Pattern Recognition:
Transfer Learning

46. With two of the corners cutoff from the 8x8 board,
can the dominos still cover all the cells on the board?
Pattern Recognition:
Transfer Learning

47. There are 32 black cells and 30 white cells. Each domino
always covers one black and one white cell. After 15 dominos
are placed on the board, there would be no more white cell!
Pattern Recognition:
Transfer Learning

48. Problem Abstraction

49. Problem Abstraction

50. 51

51. Algorithm Design: Selection Sort
• Selection sort performs sorting by repeatedly finding the
largest element in the unsorted portion of the array and
then placing it to the end of this unsorted portion until
the whole array is sorted.
• Algorithm
– Define the entire array as unsorted at the
beginning
– While the unsorted portion of the array has
more than one element:
• Find its largest element
• Swap with last element
• Reduce the unsorted portion of the array by 1

52. Algorithm Design: Selection Sort

53. Algorithm Design: Selection Sort

54. HKUST’s App Inventor MOOC

55. MIT App Inventor
• MIT App Inventor: a very easy-to-use Android
application development tool
– Homepage: http://appinventor.mit.edu
• It is completely started and used within a
browser. No software installation is needed
• Supported browsers: Chrome, Firefox and
Safari. Internet Explorer is not supported!
• System requirement details:
http://appinventor.mit.edu/explore/ai2/setup.html
56

56. MIT App Inventor
57

57. An Hour-of-Code Event for
Students and Parents

58. An Android App Game
• We will create the Super-dolphin game, where a special
dolphin is moving super fast undersea. She only appears
still in your sight for a short time (when she is tired). She
is so lovely that you want to touch her. If you manage to
touch her, she will be scared and hide herself, and your
game score will be increased by 10 points.
59

59. Android App Demo

60. To contextualize activities that allow the
application of computational thinking, a
cornerstone engineering design project course
was developed for 1st year engineering students:
• To provide students exposure to knowledge
and skills from different engineering disciplines
• To engage students in team projects that
connect engineering design with real-world
problems using computational thinking
• using a blended and experiential learning
approach
A Cornerstone Engineering
Design Project Course

61. A Blended Experiential Learning Course
on Cornerstone Design Project

62. Learning Analytics on
Student Progress

63. Cornerstone Engineering
Design Project Course

64. Cornerstone Engineering
Design Project Course

65. Cornerstone Engineering
Design Project Course

66. Cornerstone Engineering Design Project
– Design Thinking Prototyping

67. Cornerstone Engineering
Design Project - Competition

68. Cornerstone Engineering
Design Project Course

69. Learning Analytics on MOOCs
Prof. Huamin Qu’s VisMOOC: A visual analytics tool for MOOC

70. Learning Analytics on MOOCs

71. Learning Analytics on MOOCs

72. Learning Analytics on MOOCs

74. Social Network Analysis on MOOCs

75. Massive Open Online Degree
(MOOD)
76

76. Intelligent Tutor at Georgia Tech
77

77. Creativity
Critical
Thinking
21st Century Competencies & Skills
Communication
Computational
Thinking
Collaboration

78. 79
Thank you!