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Aiep4 S1 SC1

The document discusses the first two elements of computational thinking: decomposition and pattern recognition. It defines decomposition as breaking down complex problems into smaller, more manageable parts. There are three types of decomposition: substantive, relational, and functional. Pattern recognition involves studying decomposed problem components to identify shared similarities and differences in order to build understanding and find reusable solutions. It is a necessary problem-solving step that allows problems to be solved efficiently by looking for patterns across similar subproblems. The document provides examples of decomposition and pattern recognition to illustrate these computational thinking concepts.

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49 views3 pages

Aiep4 S1 SC1

The document discusses the first two elements of computational thinking: decomposition and pattern recognition. It defines decomposition as breaking down complex problems into smaller, more manageable parts. There are three types of decomposition: substantive, relational, and functional. Pattern recognition involves studying decomposed problem components to identify shared similarities and differences in order to build understanding and find reusable solutions. It is a necessary problem-solving step that allows problems to be solved efficiently by looking for patterns across similar subproblems. The document provides examples of decomposition and pattern recognition to illustrate these computational thinking concepts.

Uploaded by

cacvelarde
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Asian MathSci League, Inc (AMSLI)

Website: amsliphil.com
Email address: [email protected]

AIEP 4
Session 1
Elements of Computational Thinking (Part 1)

What is computational thinking?

Computational thinking (CT) is an approach in which you break down problems into distinct parts, look
for similarities, identify the relevant information and opportunities for simplification, and create a plan
for a solution. This broad problem-solving technique includes four elements: decomposition, pattern
recognition, abstraction and algorithms. In this session, the discussion will be focused on the first two
elements of computational thinking: decomposition and pattern recognition.

Decomposition

Computational thinking begins with decomposition, wherein you break down


complex problems into smaller, more manageable parts. With decomposition,
problems that seem overwhelming at first become much more manageable. This
process of breaking down problems enables us to analyze the different aspects of
them, ground our thinking, and guide ourselves to an end point.

One of the key features of decomposition is the differentiating and categorizing of


parts of a problem or sub-problem. The goal of this activity is to divide the
problem or sub-problem into more manageable pieces or to gain better
understanding of the problem by breaking it down into its component parts. Substantive decomposition
involves the breaking down of a problem or artifact by its componential characteristics, such as breaking
down a jigsaw puzzle by its various pieces, a painting by the colors used, or an article by its paragraphs.
Figure 1 below shows the general case of substantive decomposition, where some component A is
broken down into two sub-components B and C. These two sub-components are then considered
separately and distinct of each other, and they provide additional information while separate that was
not provided while combined.

In relational decomposition, each component or sub-component of the problem may relate to other
parts and sub-parts. Those relations could be based on time, sequence, location, dependence, function,
or any of the other previously mentioned categories of relational decomposition. Figure 2 below shows
Prepared by 2022 AIEP Team: Thamania Gumilao and Anna Patricia Miravite
the general case of relational decomposition, where some components A and B are assigned a relation.
Prior to this relational decomposition, A and B were not considered to be related in this way.

Substantive decomposition creates the “X” and “Y” of the semantic relationships. Relational
decomposition creates the connection between the “X” and the “Y.” For example, the semantic
relationship “X is a cause/result of Y” relates two substantive parts or sub-parts of a problem using a
cause-effect relationship. Each substantive part or sub-part could be understood separate from the
specific relational situation, but given the current circumstance, they are related in the specified
manner.

In Engineering, Computer Science, Design, and other fields, we observe problems frequently broken
down by their functions. We believe that functional decomposition is the result of substantive and
relational processes. Functional decomposition is understood through this framework as a combination
of a substantive and relational decomposition combined to form a decompositional semantic
relationship. Decomposing by function, then, is a parallel substantive and relational decomposition,
which separates objects into their functional sub-groups and labels them with the appropriate functional
relationships.

With these general categories of decomposition— substantive, relational, and functional — we can
better understand the categorical process of decomposing a problem, and how that decompositional
process helps to gain new meaningful information for solving the overall problem.

Pattern Recognition

In computational thinking, pattern recognition occurs when we study the different


decomposed components of the main problem. These patterns can be both
shared similarities and shared differences. This concept is essential to building
understanding amid dense information and goes well beyond recognizing patterns
amongst sequences of numbers, characters, or symbols.

Prepared by 2022 AIEP Team: Thamania Gumilao and Anna Patricia Miravite
Pattern Recognition is the act of finding and understanding similarities in ideas and objects. It is a
necessary problem-solving step as it allows us to skip having to consider every individual concept and
rather use previous experience and methods to deal with multiple objects and come up with a reusable
solution efficiently and simultaneously. It helps us solve problems by looking at many similar
subproblems instead of one complicated one. This means we only solve one problem using a procedure
and the others can be solved with the same method.

Growing up, pattern recognition has been the foundation of our knowledge. As infants, we used
patterns to make sense of the world. Infants learn to gradually speak using the different sound patterns
they hear. Our behavioral responses and cultural connections are based on the patterns we observe in
this world.

Looking for patterns in the surroundings by


deriving characteristics and features and
finding them in different places. The
simplest examples of this could include
looking at different dogs and noting the
similarities as a way of understanding how
different breeds have differences but all
have 2 eyes, a tail and a snout or looking at
different kinds of trees to understand that
even though they seem different, they all
have trunks and leaves. We can see how this
ability to recognize patterns can be seen
even in the simplest of formulas which
helped us understand the most complex ones that can tell us more about the nature of the universe that
we are living in.

As such, it can be seen that pattern recognition also occurs when scientists are trying to identify the
cause of a disease outbreak by looking for similarities in the different cases to determine the source of
the outbreak. Additionally, when Netflix recommends shows based on your interests or a chat bot
pesters you on a website, the technology (Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning) rely on pattern
recognition.

From the previous session, you have already learned how to decompose complicated problems into
simpler components. This time, ask the following questions as you approach the problems in this
handout:

 Are there any patterns observed?


 Are there any similarities between this problem and another problem previously solved?
 Do any of the parts of this problem share qualities?
 Does anything repeat?

Prepared by 2022 AIEP Team: Thamania Gumilao and Anna Patricia Miravite

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