Developing computational thinking through coding

Abstract

The turn of the 21st Century sees renewed emphasis on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Building a Smart Nation is now a buzzword for many developed countries. Compelled by the advancement of information and communication technology, the ability to code in a programming language is a skill that is now, more than ever, urgently called for. In addition, it is widely believed that coding enhances problem solving abilities. In this paper, by underscoring the disciplinarity of coding, we construct a curricular framework for inculcating computational thinking in authentic classroom situations. Our proposition that computational thinking can only be imparted through doing, and this is supported by episodes of a graduate course, taught by the second author, in which graduate students develop coding competencies in vba.