Computational Thinking Processes of Junior High School Students in Solving Problems of Number Patterns in Terms of Gender Differences

Abstract

The subjects in this study were one male student and one female student. The results of this study are the computational thinking processes of male and female students with high mathematical abilities through the stages of decomposition, pattern recognition, algorithmic thinking and abstraction and pattern generalization. The male student in the process of decomposition chose to read over and over the problemsolving question. In the process of pattern recognition, he made rows and columns to recognize the solution pattern, and then checked the solution pattern again. In the process of algorithmic thinking, he mentioned logical steps that were in accordance with the recognized solution pattern. In the process of abstraction and pattern generalization, he wrote the general pattern and conclusion of the answer to the problem-solving question and was very sure of the answer. Meanwhile, the female student in the process of decomposition read the question while underlining some important information from the problem-solving question. In the process of pattern recognition, she separated any important information that existed and gathered the information with the same characteristics to recognize the solution pattern and re-checked the pattern. In the process of algorithmic thinking, she mentioned logical steps that were in accordance with the identified solution pattern.

Keywords

• computational thinking
• number patterns
• gender