Computational Thinking Thinking Abstractly Thinking Ahead Thinking Procedurally Thinking Logically Thinking Concurrently

Thinking Abstractly The nature of abstraction Abstraction can be a difficult concept to first get your head around. There are various definitions which all follow a similar theme: “An abstract or general idea or term.” “The act of considering something as a general quality or characteristic, apart from concrete realities, specific objects, or actual instances.” “An impractical idea; something visionary and unrealistic.” “A work of art, especially a nonrepresentational one” In pairs come up with a Computer Science definition for abstraction. Be prepared to share it with the class.

Abstraction and Computer Science The process of separating ideas from specific instances of those ideas at work. Computational structures are defined by their meanings, while hiding away the details of how they work. Abstraction tries to factor out details from a common pattern so that programmers can work close to the level of human thoughts, leaving out details which matter in practice, but are immaterial to the problem being solved. Abstraction is used to make a previously complicated task simple and easy to do. This makes a process in a way that humans are able to understand instead of the process being specific to computer systems.

Thinking Abstractly The need for abstraction A-Z Travel map of London for people travelling by car How has abstraction been used in this situation and why was it needed? This has been abstractly used by labelling and colour coding the main roads in London. Large areas are shown with capital letters and smaller areas with lower case letters. This makes the information easier to read.

Thinking Abstractly The need for abstraction Key bus routes in central London How has abstraction been used in this situation and why was it needed? This map only contains the bus routes and stops which is all the information that needs to be included. Major tourist attractions have been included so people can know what route to take. There is also a key to show which route goes where, this key designated each bus route with a colour so that it is easy to understand what is what.

Thinking Abstractly The need for abstraction Image used for a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle about London’s landmarks How has abstraction been used in this situation and why was it needed? An angled 3D drawing helps people to learn where all the major land marks are in the area of central London. Its not designed for navigation. This map has been created so that people are able to understand where the main places are in London in relation to each other but without any scale.

Thinking Abstractly The need for abstraction Congestion zone map of central London How has abstraction been used in this situation and why was it needed? This map shows the area where the congestion zone this is done by using the major points of interest and basic geography. Landmarks, bus and train stations are shown by symbols making them easy to point out.

Thinking Abstractly The need for abstraction Tourist map of London How has abstraction been used in this situation and why was it needed? Landmarks are shown with symbols Large roads which are easy for navigation

Thinking Abstractly Abstraction and Reality 1. Explain with the aid of these diagrams the difference between abstraction an reality. Reality Abstraction

Thinking Abstractly Abstraction and Reality 1. Explain with the aid of these diagrams the difference between abstraction an reality. Reality Abstraction

Thinking Abstractly Abstraction and Reality 1. Explain with the aid of these diagrams the difference between abstraction an reality. Reality Abstraction

Thinking Abstractly Abstraction and Reality 1. Explain with the aid of these diagrams the difference between abstraction an reality. Reality Abstraction

Thinking Abstractly Devising Abstract Models A house plan needs to be drawn up by a structural engineer to provide to a planning officer. How might abstraction be used by the engineer when producing the drawing? Doesn’t contain furniture or a roof but the drawing is to scale, this makes it easy for the planning officer to understand.

Thinking Abstractly Devising Abstract Models Abstraction is used heavily in every game ever made. Replicating reality isn’t possible and often shouldn’t even been a goal, interactive entertainment sets itself apart by offering players fun decisions and testing their skills often by immersing them in a unique world. Games fail to achieve these goals when they prioritise realism above everything else. Using The Internet research the Civilization game series. This is a computer game franchise which lets players manage the growth and development of a nation as it evolves through from the stone age to current times. How has abstraction been used during the development of this game? Simplified economy Icons to represent units Simplified country boarders Simplified tech tree Simple combat (turn based) Grid based map Simple politics

Thinking Abstractly Exam Questions… AirlineGo is a flight simulator, designed for pilots, to learn how to fly commercial aircraft. The simulator allows the pilot to fly virtually over many types of terrain including cities, landing and taking off at international airports. The developers of the simulation software examine real cities. They then use a process of abstraction to design a virtual city and airport. Explain why developers use abstraction. Developers use abstraction to miss out the things in the world that aren’t required such as people moving around the cities. They use abstraction so that is it easy to represent the basic geographical orientation of the cities and runways so that people can learn without any unnecessary distractions.   ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...... ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..[2]

Thinking Abstractly Exam Questions… The simulated city and the real city will have similarities and differences. State two similarities between the simulated city and the real city, and explain why these similarities exist.   Similarity 1 The layout of both of the cities will be the same making it easy for the students to learn where the runways are.  ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...... …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………... Similarity 2 the height and size of the city will be to scale. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..[4]

Thinking Abstractly Exam Questions… State two differences between the simulated and real city.   Difference 1 There will be no people or animals in the simulated city only the necessary things will be in it ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...... …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………... Difference 2 the simulated city wont have any vehicles moving around on the roads. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..[4]

Thinking Abstractly Task… Create 3 images of Dorset varying in purpose and levels of abstraction. Annotate your work with comments on the need for abstraction in your images. Find 3 example's of abstraction in the programming industry. What is the need for programmers to use them and how does it advantage the coding solution.

Reality Abstraction Dorset Maps This is a satellite image of Dorset and is 100% accurate to the real world This map is partially abstract as it is a scale drawing showing most roads in Dorset This is an abstract image of Dorset only showing the A roads and the neighbouring counties

Why programmers use abstraction? Programmers will use abstraction when they are creating a city so that it only creates the data required for the purpose that it is being created, so when creating a city there may not be any people actually in it. Abstraction is also used when programming so in a 4th programming language words are used instead of writing out lots of syntax to make the computer do the same job. An architect may use abstraction when designing a house so that only the relevant dimensions and information is on/in the building plans sot that they are clear and easy to understand. Abstraction is used in computer science so that the task in hand is much simpler to carry out. This means that the programmer may only have to click a few times or type a few words instead of worrying about the pages of syntax that those procedures actually create so that they can do what they say. Overall abstraction is used to make the programmer have as easy of a time as possible and therefore to make it simpler to reach their overall end goal to complete their project as quick as possible and as efficiently as they can.