Algorithm Examples Guide: What Is an Algorithm?

These 6 Examples of Algorithms In Everyday Life

Explain Everything
sphero.com/blogs/news/real-world-algorithm-examples

We teach our kids from a very early age how to do everyday tasks. We show them how to
tie their shoes, walk up the stairs, snap their fingers, whistle, and even how to set the table
using a step-by-step procedure.

From following a recipe to driving a car, everything we do has a process to follow. As kids
grow and face more complex problems to solve, they need a strong foundation in
algorithmic design and computational thinking to accomplish their goals.

Algorithms and computational thinking are so important for young learners because they
teach kids how to solve problems and develop step-by-step processes, both at school and
outside the classroom.

We asked two STEM education experts, Laurie Guyon and David Czechowski, how they
best explain real-world algorithm examples to their students and compiled them here.

What is an algorithm?
An algorithm is a set of rules or instructions used to solve complex problems. In many
STEM fields, algorithms are used by computer programs to streamline processes.
However, algorithms aren’t limited to STEM; they’re found everywhere.

Why Algorithms are Important in Early Education

Algorithms are in everything we do. They’re a crucial part of computational thinking and
problem-solving in many areas of life, as we use algorithms to accurately and efficiently
execute tasks.

Laurie Guyon, Sphero Hero and Coordinator for Model Schools in New York, shared, “As
a former sixth-grade English teacher, I used algorithmic design in essay writing to talk
about sequencing, storyboarding, plot diagrams, and following steps to write a quality
essay. We even called the editing process ‘debugging,’ because I found students were more
likely to edit their papers if they saw the purpose of making sure their writing made sense
to the reader. If we discussed their sentences as lines of code that a human had to read,
they understood the importance of the editing process.”

The same can be said for just about anything we do. If you have ever watched a cooking
show, the chef walks you through the step-by-step process of creating a delicious meal.
Someone who investigates crime has a procedure to discern what happened in an incident
and who could be at fault. Algorithms are in everything we do, so it’s important that
young learners understand how to recognize and utilize them, Guyon adds.

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6 Examples of Real-World Algorithms
Whether algorithms are used in places that aren’t at all surprising, like Google, or in a
manual activity that is more unexpected, like brushing your teeth, algorithms play a role
in the human experience every single day, Guyon goes on to explain.

1. Sorting Papers

Imagine a teacher sorting their students’ papers according to the alphabetical order of
their first names. This type of task is similar to the function of a sorting algorithm, like a
bucket sort. By looking at only the first letter of the first name, you can remove a lot of
unnecessary information. This is an automated process that makes sorting more efficient.

2. Facial Recognition
Every day we see someone we know: a loved one, a coworker, or even an eccentric
neighbor. When we recognize somebody’s face, we’re drawing upon data we’ve previously
collected on the size and position of that person’s facial features. That information is then
analyzed internally to automatically recognize others.

Algorithms can automate this process for computers; however, facial recognition is not
perfect. In the Netflix series “Coded Bias,” Joy Buolamwini, an activist and computer
scientist based at MIT, discusses how algorithms used for facial recognition can be biased.
This investigative series finds that facial recognition algorithms often do not recognize
dark-skinned faces accurately, uncovering the need for additional work when creating
algorithms based on human design.

3. Google Search

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Even an action as seemingly simple as a Google search is only possible with the help of
algorithms. Say, for example, you want to know if an elephant can swim. How you phrase
the question to Google is the input you are asking the computer to determine.

Google doesn’t even need all the words of the question “can an elephant swim?” For
example, try searching for “swimming elephant” and see what you get. You will find that
immediately, the output or the results show videos of elephants swimming, followed by
more on the subject. Google uses an algorithm to generate these answers without needing
the entirety of the question.

4. Duplicating Outcomes

David Czechowski, Computer Science and Technology Teacher at Hyde Park Central
Schools, explains this example. “If we want to do well at a given task, it can be extremely
helpful to look at previous successful examples from other people. A great daily example
of this is using a recipe while cooking. Sure, you might be able to figure out how to make
delicious pasta on your own through trial and error, but following a step-by-step recipe
from a well-known chef helps ensure success.”

5. Traffic Lights

Czechowski adds, “Here’s an algorithm we frequently experience; the next time you're in
your car stuck at a red light, consider the algorithm the traffic light is executing.”

Most traffic lights don’t automatically cycle through green, yellow, and red. Rather, there
are sensory inputs that determine the signals’ timing based on the flow of traffic. The
algorithm is a well-constructed, step-by-step order that directs the traffic appropriately
(although it may not feel like it when you’re sitting at a red light).

6. Bus Schedules

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Every weekday morning, thousands of buses criss-cross neighborhoods picking up
students. Mapping out efficient bus routes is an overwhelming manual task to execute
without an algorithm to automate the calculations and schedule the right students for the
right addresses at the right time. This routing issue is classically referred to as “The
Traveling Salesman Problem" and is even used as an exercise for theoretical computer
science, according to Czechowski.

Algorithms are all around us, so close and common that we don’t even recognize them as
algorithms. From cooking to looking up directions to something simple like tying your
shoes, finding algorithms in your day-to-day life may not be as hard as you think.

How Administrators Can Build Confidence with Algorithms

Algorithmic thinking should be a crucial facet in modern education programs, but many
schools overlook this topic or are unsure how to approach it. Administrators can take
steps to ensure that algorithmic thinking and design are present in their schools.

Administrator’s Corner: Algorithmic thinking can also improve the

onboarding or upskilling of teachers.
When designing professional learning opportunities for current or future teachers, I like
to follow an outline or an algorithmic process. I start with a question or activity to get
participants engaged, build community, and think about the topic. From there, I like to do
something to get them excited about the subject. We dive into the meat of the matter, with
lots of time for questions and reflection. This algorithm allows participants to be actively
engaged in the learning process and keeps a natural flow for success.

Show Real-World Examples of Algorithms with Sphero

Algorithm design doesn’t have to be complex or daunting. It already plays an important
role in our daily lives, even in the simplest tasks we do like Googling questions or
organizing papers. Algorithmic thinking is an integral part of computational thinking and
is now a necessary life skill.

Young learners can develop algorithmic thinking and design skills both in and out of the
classroom with the help of Sphero’s programmable robots and STEM kits.

Written by:

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Sphero Team

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