REFLECTION

Can you identify any specific instances where you had to break down a complex problem into smaller steps while
playing the game? How did this relate to computational thinking?
1) During one of the mazes, I had to get enough health in order to fight the dragon to get to
the end. I used the aspect of decomposition to break down the data to a step-by-step
process in order to get to the end alive.

Which maze required you to use patterns and sequences to progress? How does this relate to the concept of
computational thinking?
2) For maze conditions lesson 7, I had to recognise the pattern to move forward and turn
back and at the same time avoiding the obstructions in order to reach the end and collect all
the gems. Using pattern recognition in computational thinking, I observed the patterns and
trends in order to loop the sequence for the script to be successful.

Were there any moments during the game where you had to anticipate potential outcomes of your actions before
making a decision? How does this relate to how you came out with the algorithm?
3) I had to anticipate how many dragons I’ll have to fight and whether I’ll have enough
health to fight all before reaching the end. I used the aspect of algorithm in order to order
the codes accordingly to reach the end alive.

Can you draw parallels between the game's virtual world and real-world scenarios where you might apply
computational thinking principles to solve problems?
4) In the maze game, we navigate by giving instructions to guide a character to a specific
spot. At first, I explored with the different commands –"move left," "attack" – figuring out
how each commands affected my character's actions. Once I understood the functions,
manoeuvring the character around the map improved. This reminds me of my initial
experience when I first learnt how to drive a manual car. Unfamiliar with the car parts –
clutch, brakes, pedals – I played around with them. Gradually, as I mastered the functions,
driving became natural. This parallels decomposition and algorithm where I broke down
something complex and try to solve them step by step. The game enlightens that
computational thinking can shape solutions for varied real-world challenges.
Reflect on how trial and error played a role in your gameplay experience. How does experimentation connect
with the iterative process that's often part of computational thinking?
6) Once I understood how the commands worked, trial and error were necessary to better
comprehend how to move my character effectively around the map. This process mirrors
computational thinking, which entails repeatedly refining and optimizing solutions. Like
when I adjusted my maze strategy and experimented with various commands step by step,
computational thinking involves adapting algorithms through cycles of testing and
improvement. This highlights the value of experimentation in enhancing problem-solving
skills and creating efficient solutions for real-world issues.

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Discuss the relationship between the game's rules and the actions you could take. How did understanding and
interpreting these rules align with the logic and reasoning aspects of computational thinking?
7) Understanding the game’s rules allowed me to know the actions that I can undertake.
Knowing the actions and combining it with computational thinking, allowed me to more
efficiently complete the game. An example is in a level where I used pattern recognition and
realised my character just needed to take 4 steps forward and turn right repeatedly. By
identifying the pattern am I able to use the ‘while’ command to act as a loop. Only be
recognising the pattern am I able to use the loop to deliver a concise answer to the level.
Thus, understanding the rules and computational thinking are both to needed to solve the
problem in an efficient way.

Reflect on the concept of abstraction as applied in the game. Can you identify any elements that were simplified
or generalized, and how did this help you understand and interact within the game world?
8) Abstraction helped me to simplify the problems in the maze game. Using abstraction
helped me understand that my character just needed to move forward and attack the
monster. This made me realised that my commands just need to have these 2 elements.
This allowed to use the ‘while’ command to loop my character to move forward and the ‘if’
command to attack the monster if it is in front. Abstraction saved me the trouble of
worrying how many steps my character needed to take to move forward thus simplifying
the problem. This allows me to use ‘while’ command as a loop to deliver a concise answer to
the problem.
Reflect on the creativity and innovation required when coming up with solutions to unique challenges in the
game. How does computational thinking foster creative problem-solving?
9) Computational thinking allows us to decompose the challenges into smaller bite-size
portions to work with. With each challenge in the game being smaller, that makes it way
more manageable. Then, we can make sense of the smaller scale challenge that we may be
working on and find the most optimal solution. Continuous use of computational thinking
reduces the time required for our brains to grasp key concepts or information. This lets us
flex our brain muscles, which in return helps to foster creative and innovative problem-
solving skills.
Can you connect the idea of algorithms, which are fundamental in computational thinking, to the series of actions
you took to complete a specific task or solve a problem in the game?
10) The game that we played during our tutorial session showed us that there is always a
simple solution to solve the problem. However, by using a set of algorithms, we can
minimise the number of mundane steps that we take to solve the problem. We could see in
real-time that by thinking through the maze and coming out a set of rules for our avatar to
follow, allowed it to solve the maze by itself without us giving it a huge set of instructions
for the same outcome. Therefore, linking back to the definition of computational thinking
which is: “a set of skills and processes that guide problem solving”.

Describe a situation in the game where you had to weigh different options and make a decision based on logical
reasoning. How does this decision-making process reflect the principles of computational thinking?
11) There were numerous features and maze-solving options available throughout the
game. There were some solutions that were simple to implement but difficult to code. As a
result, I had to dissect each code and comprehend its function. I then experimented with
various ways to implement the solution in an effort to identify a pattern. In the end, I
discovered a comparable pattern that enabled the character to walk in the desired direction.
I then determined which functions were required and concentrated on utilising them to

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clear the maze. Finally, using the strategies from earlier attempts, I gradually finished
clearing the other maze levels.
Reflect on your overall gaming experience today. How has participating in this tutorial class enhanced your
understanding of computational thinking, and how might you apply these principles beyond the virtual world of
gaming?
12) I learned more about computational thinking and how it functions after taking this
tutorial. After attempting to solve the maze challenges, I realise how important each process
in the computational thinking competencies is. These processes can be used in my studies,
where I divide difficult problems into several sub-sections and then analyse each sub-section
for patterns. I can then find the essential and important information in each sub-section
and combine them to fully comprehend the topic as a whole.