Computational Thinking Practices Flashcards
7 cards from real APCSP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Computational Thinking Practices flashcards as text
A programmer notices that a function she wrote to find the maximum value in a list returns the wrong answer when the list contains duplicate values. Which computational thinking practice is she applying when she identifies and isolates this specific scenario?
Answer: Debugging
Debugging involves identifying, isolating, and correcting errors in a program, including finding edge cases like duplicate values.
Which of the following best describes the concept of 'abstraction' in computational thinking?
Answer: Removing unnecessary details to focus on essential features
Abstraction means hiding irrelevant details and focusing only on the information necessary to solve the problem at hand.
A student wants to simulate how a virus spreads through a school. She models each student as a node and each contact as an edge. What type of computational model is she using?
Answer: Graph-based model
A graph-based model uses nodes and edges to represent relationships, making it ideal for modeling contact networks like disease spread.
Which of the following is an example of 'decomposition' as a computational thinking strategy?
Answer: Splitting a music app into separate modules for playback, search, and playlists
Decomposition is the process of breaking a complex problem or system into smaller, more manageable parts.
When evaluating a computational artifact, a student considers whether the program produces the correct output for all possible inputs, including unexpected ones. What practice does this represent?
Answer: Testing and verification
Testing and verification involves running a program against various inputs, including edge cases, to confirm it behaves correctly.
A team of students is building an app. One student handles the user interface, another manages the database, and a third writes the core logic. Which computational thinking practice does this workflow reflect?
Answer: Decomposition with collaboration
Dividing a project into distinct roles combines decomposition (breaking the problem apart) with collaboration (working together).
Which of the following scenarios best demonstrates 'pattern recognition' in computational thinking?
Answer: Noticing that sorting algorithms all require comparing elements
Pattern recognition involves identifying similarities or recurring structures across different problems, such as recognizing that all sorting algorithms use comparisons.