What exactly is meant by Computational Thinking?
It is difficult to define the term precisely because it is a concept that combines different aspects, and a generally accepted definition does not yet exist. However, Computational Thinking does not mean thinking like a computer – as it might appear at first glance. To the contrary, it has much more to do with a cognitive problem-solving strategy in which computers can be used.
Wing (2010):
Computational Thinking is the thought processes involved in formulating problems and their solutions so that the solutions are represented in a form that can be effectively carried out by an information-processing agent.
According to this frequently cited definition, Computational Thinking is a thought process in which problems are framed in such a way that the information can be processed by a person, a computer, or a combination of the two.
ICILS (2018):
Computational Thinking refers to an individual’s ability to recognize aspects of real-world problems which are appropriate for computational formulation and to evaluate and develop algorithmic solutions to those problems so that the solutions could be operationalized with a computer.
According to this definition, Computational Thinking ultimately requires the use of a computer for problem-solving processes.