Students’ understanding of computational thinking with a focus on decomposition in building network simulations

This paper reports a study into students’ understanding of decomposition when building network simulations. Students were asked to complete three problem-solving tasks involving designing and troubleshooting computer networks using simulation software. Through online surveys, interviews and focus groups the students’ understanding of computational thinking was interrogated. The results show that students were not conscious that they were applying computational thinking concepts when designing and troubleshooting networks on simulation software. It appears their interest were to simply get problems solved but not necessarily with the understanding of the application of the concepts of computational thinking.