- Definition
Computational representations are ways of showing math problems or ideas using computers to help solve them, like making a graph or a simulation.
Programming a toy robot to move forward 4 steps is a computational representation of the number 4.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: A computational representation is like telling a robot toy how many steps to take instead of pushing it yourself.
Ask your child: How could a robot show us the number three?
Common mix-up: Kids may think this is just playing a math game. The key is that they are using a tool to build or show a math idea themselves.
Examples
- Using a coding app to make a character jump 5 times to show the number 5.
- Making a simple bar graph on a computer to show how many kids like red versus blue.
computational representations is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
