Procedural thinking

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Procedural thinking[1]


Procedural thinking is a disciplined method of thinking in sequence, in order and logically. Procedural thinking can be reflected in a flow chart. Some examples below may help you better understand procedural thinking:

  1. Following a recipe requires procedural thinking because you must follow the steps in order
  2. Putting together Ikea furniture requires procedural thinking because you usually follow the steps in order
  3. Procedural thinking is used when performing CPR to save someone's life - you follow a series of steps (call for help, check breathing, check airway, check circulation, decide if you perform CPR)
  4. When you print something on a school printer, you follow a series of sequential steps (choose what to print, click print, choose a printer, go to the printer, and then scan your barcode).
  5. If a lamp is broken, you might follow these steps in the flowchart below[2]:

LampFlowchart.png


Standards[edit]

These standards are used from the IB Computer Science Subject Guide[3]

  • Identify the procedure appropriate to solving a problem.

References[edit]

  1. http://www.flaticon.com/
  2. By svg by Booyabazookaoriginal png by Wapcaplet - vector version of Image:LampFlowchart.png, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=714537
  3. IB Diploma Programme Computer science guide (first examinations 2014). Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom: International Baccalaureate Organization. January 2012.