Book Review

Neumann, M.D., Dion, L., & Snapp, R. (2021). Teaching computational thinking: An integrative approach for middle and high school learning. The MIT Press. ISBN: 9780262045056 (paperback), $45.00, 200 pages; ISBN: 9780262366144 (electronic), open-access. https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/11209.001.0001

 

Introducing students to computer science (CS) and programming, primarily through the development of coding skills, has emerged as a top priority in policy and practice in recent years. The impact on Technology and Engineering Education is clear: The ability to use, create, and understand computer programs is essential for success in subjects such as automation and robotics, digital and integrated manufacturing, media production, and more. However, the conversation surrounding the implementation of these 21^st-century skills has moved beyond the ability to use computers or create code toward the development of a broader set of computational thinking skills that support critical thinking on- and offline. Maureen D. Neumann, Lisa Dion, and Robert Snapp (2021) define computational thinking skills as "a set of mental and cognitive skills that are applied to the problem-solving process to help individuals discover and apply different strategies and algorithmic solutions to challenging and complex problems" (p. 1). This book offers educators a hands-on, evidenced-based approach to introducing middle and high school students to the application of computational thinking skills using various integrative approaches to learning that supports this premise.