IT Specialist – Computational Thinking

Candidates for this certification understand how to employ strategies for understanding and solving
problems in ways that leverage the power of computing principles to develop solutions. Candidates know
how to decompose problems, collect and analyze data, recognize patterns in data, represent data through
abstractions, and automate solutions by using algorithmic thinking. Candidates know how to collaborate
with others and also how to create computational artifacts to communicate the problem and its solution
to others. Candidates have at least 150 hours of instruction and/or practical experience analyzing, col-
laborating on, and solving problems using computing principles like decomposition, pattern recognition,
sequencing, conditional logic, and iteration.

1. Foundational Concepts

1.1 Understand and recognize different types of data (ISTE 3B, 5B)

1.2 Recognize and apply logical reasoning (ISTE 3A, 5B)

1.3 Explain algorithmic thinking (ISTE 5A, 5D)

2. Identify and Collect Data

2.1 Assess data needs and available data (ISTE 3B, 5B, 5C)

2.2 Understand data quality (ISTE 3B, 5B)

2.3 Collect the data needed to solve a problem (ISTE 1D, 2B, 3B, 3C, 5B)

3. Apply Abstraction

3.1 Identify patterns in and apply abstraction to data (ISTE 5A, 5B, 5C)

3.2 Recognize, create and interpret abstract models (ISTE 5C, 5D)

4. Specify a Solution

4.1 Define and decompose a problem (ISTE 4B, 5A, 5C)

4.2 Identify requirements (ISTE 4A, 4B, 6A)

5. Automate a Solution

5.1 Use a sequence of steps in algorithms (ISTE 5B, 5D)

5.2 Automate repetitive tasks by using iteration (ISTE 5D)

5.3 Use selection statements in algorithms (ISTE 5D)

5.4 Use variables in algorithms (ISTE 5D)

6. Present and Improve a Solution

6.1 Produce a computational artifact to present a solution to a target
audience (ISTE 6A, 6C, 6D)

6.2 Collaborate on computational artifacts (ISTE 1C, 7B)

6.3 Perform iterative design on an automated solution
(ISTE 1D, 4C, 5C, 5D)