PROCEEDINGS OF THE 23RD ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON RESEARCH IN UNDERGRADUATE MATHEMATICS EDUCATION
2020
Boston, Massachusetts
An example of computational thinking in mathematics
Page: 1022
The term computational thinking has engaged multiple disciplines in discussions about how to prepare students for careers in a technological society. However, a wide variety of definitions and settings has made it difficult for researchers to clarify what is meant by computational thinking. In this paper, we present a case study that explores one setting in which computational thinking and mathematics interact, through an interview with a computational mathematics PhD student. We consider the influence that computational thinking and mathematical knowledge have on each other through three key moments in the student’s dissertation process. Additionally, we consider the role of affect in computational thinking and the potential benefits that computational thinking carries for the future of mathematicians.