Rethinking Learning for Districts: The Power of Computational Thinking for All Students

Outline

1. Welcome & Hook (5 minutes)
Brief intro and session goals

Quick prompt: “Where do you see problem-solving happening in your classroom?”

2. Why Computational Thinking? (10 minutes)
Define CT in simple terms

Explain why CT matters for all learners and subjects

Clarify that CT is not just coding

3. Project Tomorrow’s CT Framework (10 minutes)
Introduce the 4 key components:

Decomposition

Pattern Recognition

Abstraction

Algorithm Design

Give a brief example for each

4. CT Across the Curriculum (10 minutes)
Show 2–3 quick examples from non-CS subjects (e.g., ELA, math, science)

Participants reflect: “Where could I integrate CT into my content?”

5. Try It: Apply the Framework (10 minutes)
Provide a simple lesson or scenario

In pairs or groups: Identify CT components present or missing

Share insights

6. Wrap-Up & Next Steps (5 minutes)
Key takeaways

Resources to explore

Exit prompt: “One way I can apply CT next week…”

Supporting research

https://www.tomorrow.org/projects/computational-thinking-projects/