Computational Thinking with Google Slides

Computational thinking means thinking or solving problems like computer scientists. CT refers to thought processes required in understanding problems and formulating solutions. CT involves logic, assessment, patterns, automation, and generalisation. 

Computational thinking - Wikipedia

Computational thinking, or solving problems logically, is most often associated with coding. But, using animation Google Slides can be a good way to introduce "if then" computational thinking to beginners or younger students. 

For this post, I recreated an animation I used a few years ago when teaching Google Slides animation to a cohort of Grade 3 students.

PLANNING

The first step we took was to plan our story. For my example, I am just showing a scene where Kyo Ren uses a force push to blow away a stormtrooper. I wanted a few stormtroopers but didn't want to spend time editing an image in GIMP. However, this could be a good way to add a layer of skills to this project for students.

Open Slides and then find your images

Insert the images and add a credits slide. (Which is a good way to incorporate digital citizenship and citations.)

Make sure the title is in with the student name. I always ask students to not only but a document title but also their name in the document title so it can be easily searched in Drive when shared with me.

STORY

The story is the most important part of this activity. Students need to have a clear vision of what they want to accomplish. I have students create a simple graphic organizer or storyboard for this part just to help them make their thinking visible. The younger the student, the more helpful this is for them. 

Adobe has storyboarding resources here

A simple storyboard template from ESL Kids

Add Animation

Set the students up to have a partner for this process. That way they can ask that person. If neither of them know the answer it is a good chance for them to practice searching for the answer online. Chances are they will be able to find a video or article that covers it. 

The animation is a really fun part of this project for students. This is also where students take the most time. 

This process of adding animation is the same type of logic coders (among others) use when creating. When coding, you need to understand what each step does and think about how it will affect the following step in the sequence. 

The animation menu

In the animation menu, seen above, after choosing the object to animate, you can choose the action the object will take. Here it is shown as fade out. The next option is the sequence the object will take action in. In my example it is after previous which means the action will automatically take place after the previous action. 

One action, or command, that students need to pay attention to is anything with on click. On click means you have to click the mouse to make the animation start or continue. 

Kylo getting his force on

The animation menu appears to the right of the slide

Press Play to preview

At the bottom of the animation menu is a play button. This is where you can preview your animation. You have to click on the slide to start it or to continue if you have an on click command. To exit the preview mode, click the stop button.

The stop button

To insert animation:

1. Click the item you want to animate.
2. Use the animation menu to decide the sequence. 
3. Preview your animation to see if it looks how you want. 

Review

Even though students should have reviewed their animation, seeing it again they might want to change things. I even changed my own animation after previewing for this post. 

The teacher should walk around the room and ask questions and make suggestions. 

Ask questions like:

"Have you thought about ...?" 

"What happens if you do this ...?"

Just ask your question and walk away. Part of the learning is learning how to solve their own problems and overcome obstacles. 

Lastly, but not leastly, students should pay attention to how the elements add or distract from the story. That digital literacy piece is an easy addon to the activity that students should be thinking about as they create content.