Algorithm For Kids: Learn How To Develop Logical Thinking Skills

In a world fully occupied with technical gadgets and the internet, the algorithm is a commonly heard term that most of us are familiar with.

The concept of the algorithm may sound complex and intimidating at the beginning, but with proper guidance, you can easily know about the basics of the algorithm. Learning about the algorithm from a very young age simplifies the concepts as well as opens up several work opportunities in the future.

An algorithm is the basic coding concept used to create and solve all simple tasks as well as complex programs in the world. Data, methods, results are a few other terms for algorithms.

The algorithms are created and implemented for solving problems and real-life issues. Activities as basic as driving a car or making a sandwich for yourself can be used as an example of algorithms.

Learning such fundamental coding concepts from school will build a strong foundation for kids in the field of computer science.

The basic thing about algorithms that kids should understand is that instead of working on finding final results, the algorithm describes a set of patterns. Now that you have some idea about the algorithms, you can easily explain algorithms to kids with the help of this article and by looking at some examples.

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Define Algorithm For Kids With Example

An algorithm is defined as a set of specified guidelines generated for solving a problem, it describes how to solve a task. Creating a well-developed algorithm requires the combined talents of mathematicians, engineers, and computer scientists.

It can be simply defined as step-by-step instructions that forecast predictability or pattern in your behavior through a set of numbers or a code.

By now many of you may know about some practical uses of the algorithm and coding, but the first algorithm was written in the ninth century by the father of Algebra, Musa al-Khwarizmi. Even though the concept is purely mathematical, algorithmic thinking has many real-world applications.

Without algorithms, the present-day world would have been a completely different place, it has many applications in our everyday life. Apart from the internet, algorithmic thinking and coding activities are also used for making decisions to solve a specific problem in schools, hospitals, and even transportation.

It is used widely in the field of Information technology or IT. To explain algorithms to kids, their parents should know whether they are interested in the topic.

Otherwise, kids will fail to understand the basic concept of coding and might find programming difficult. There are various platforms for children to learn algorithms.

How to create an algorithm for kids?

Algorithms in coding are defined as lines of code applied to solve math problems and programming. Basic algorithms are used for searching information and sorting list.

Complicated algorithm skills are used for developing search engines and data science models. The process of coding and computer programming helps in computing big data quickly and accurately, more than any human ever can. Problem-solving and logical thinking reached a new dimension through this computer programming language.

It is not possible for most of the kids to understand and carry out such complicated processes of coding, to explain algorithms to kids you have to use simple terminology and explaining methods. We have jotted four clear steps that will help children to learn coding and to write their first algorithm.

The basic definition of an algorithm states that it describes a method of doing any form of activity. Children can use a simple flowchart or a step-by-step process to write a program in the beginning.

There is no need to code an algorithm before a child gets the grip of programming. Figuring out the math behind algorithms might take some time, you have to be patient with them as they start exploring the beauty of such subjects.

Once the child is done with setting the guidelines, it is time for them to define them into specific steps. The process of breaking into simple steps is called pseudocode.

Later, it can be related to programming language.

After setting a basic framework, the child can start to explain each step in coding language. On finishing coding, it's time for the children to test their own projects by trying out as many cases as possible.

Introducing multiple cases will help in checking the accuracy of the algorithms. Parents should never demotivate children when they are learning such complicated subjects for the first time as it may yield negative effects.

Types Of Algorithm

In the present day, the applications of algorithms are not only confined to computers, they are also used to solve math problems and deal with specific tasks in our daily life. Based on their variation in functions, the algorithms can be broken into several types.

There are six fundamental types of algorithms that are considered to be the fundamental types, having a knowledge of these fundamental types will help you to know about the basics of algorithmic thinking.

Recursive algorithm- It is one of the most important and fundamental types of algorithms. It will break down the larger values of inputs into smaller values until a solution is reached.

It calls itself with smaller values of inputs which are reached by solving the current inputs. In simpler terms, a recursive algorithm is an algorithm that will call itself repeatedly till the time a problem is solved.

Divide and conquer algorithm- Another effective and significant way of solving complex problems, the divide and conquer algorithm breaks the algorithm into two parts.

The first part is meant for sub-dividing the problems and breaking it into simpler terms as the problem continues and the function of the second part is to mainly solve the problem. All the sub-problems that are divided by the first part belong to the same type of the main problem.

The second part combines all of these small problems and gives a combined solution as the final result of the actual problem.

Dynamic programming algorithm- Such types of algorithms store the results of the past problems that were solved in the computer. They use the past results to find new ones.

Like all algorithms, this also breaks down a complex problem into several sub-problems and combines their results to compute the solution. The difference is, it can store the data of the results for future uses.

Greedy algorithm- It is used for finding solutions to optimization problems. This algorithm chooses an optimum solution without thinking about any consequences of the future. It then tries to find the optimal value based on the selected value. However, it is not a very effective process of finding the optimal solution.

Brute force algorithm- A brute force is one of the simplest and most effective algorithms that are used for finding solutions. It iterates all possible solutions to a problem and comes up with the most accurate one. It also gives more than one solution of a function, each of them gives an opportunity to solve the problem.

Backtracking algorithm-It solves a function by a trial and elimination method. The problems are solved one at a time recursively. If a single solution fails, then that entire solution is discarded and the algorithm backtracks to find another possible solution. It has the ability to automatically undo a mistake in the method of calculation.

Uses Of Algorithm

The term algorithm is a frequently heard word of present times, it has become the fundamental unit of computer science. Once the scientists learned that a computer can function on its own if it is given a set of instructions, they started digging into the matter even more.

This method of step-by-step commanding is an algorithm and it has many practical uses in our life. Learning algorithm opens up career opportunities in STEM fields.

The algorithm is used in the field of data processing, calculation, and autogenerated reasoning. We cannot think of surviving without the internet and the internet cannot function without algorithms.

Internet is the outcome of algorithms and the huge data on numerous sites can operate only with the help of creative algorithms. The everyday e-commerce activities that use our personal data depend on mathematic algorithms.

A computer application without an algorithm requirement also depends on several other aspects having a substantial use of the algorithm. It is used in social media, youtube, and games too.

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