Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Algorithmic Thinking: The Key for Understanding Computer Science

  • Conference paper
Informatics Education – The Bridge between Using and Understanding Computers (ISSEP 2006)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNTCS,volume 4226))

Abstract

We show that algorithmic thinking is a key ability in informatics that can be developed independently from learning programming. For this purpose we use problems that are not easy to solve but have an easily understandable problem definition. A proper visualization of these problems can help to understand the basic concepts connected with algorithms: correctness, termination, efficiency, determinism, parallelism, etc. The presented examples were used by the author in a pre-university course, they may also be used in secondary schools to help understanding some concepts of computer science.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Propädeutikum in Informatik (prolog), Lessons held at Vienna University of Technology, http://www.informatik.tuwien.ac.at/prolog

  2. Loidl, S., Mühlbacher, J., Schauer, H.: Preparatory Knowledge: Propaedeutic in Informatics. In: Mittermeir, R.T. (ed.) ISSEP 2005. LNCS, vol. 3422, pp. 104–115. Springer, Heidelberg (2005)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  3. Snyder, L., Interview by Olsen, F.: Computer Scientist Says all Students Should Learn to Think ’Algorithmically’. The Chronicle of Higher Education (May 5, 2000), http://chronicle.com/free/2000/03/2000032201t.htm/

  4. Mudner, T., Shakshuki, E.: A new Approach to Learning Algorithms. In: Proceedings of International Conference on Information Technology: Coding and Computing, pp. 141–145 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Software Technology and Interactive Systems, Vienna University of Technology, Favoritenstrasse 9, 1040, Vienna, Austria

    Gerald Futschek

Authors
  1. Gerald Futschek
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Informatik-Systeme, Universität Klagenfurt, Klagenfurt, Austria

    Roland T. Mittermeir

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2006 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Futschek, G. (2006). Algorithmic Thinking: The Key for Understanding Computer Science. In: Mittermeir, R.T. (eds) Informatics Education – The Bridge between Using and Understanding Computers. ISSEP 2006. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 4226. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/11915355_15

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/11915355_15

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-48218-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-48227-7

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation