Acting Like an Algorithm
This activity allows students to gain a better understanding for how algorithms work. Students engage in an activity which symbolizes the Google PageRank algorithm. Students divide into groups and follow specific steps, in the form of a ball game, in order to match the results of the Google PageRank algorithm. They also gain a general understanding for the functionality of networking on the internet. Students visualize the fundamental importance of algorithms, which can make calculations fast and easy.
Students gather to compare the results of the PageRank activity.Copyright 2020 Alexi Drgac, Colorado School of Mines
Computer scientists and engineers use algorithms on a daily basis to make their lives easier. One of the major applications for algorithms is sorting through a large set of information, quickly. This helps optimize engineer’s time while working in the field. For example, an engineer might need to find a specific piece of information in a very large set of data; an algorithm would have the capability to sort through that large set of data in a matter of seconds, as opposed to the numerous amount of hours that a person would spend searching the database for that specific piece of information. Students will get hands-on experience to visualize how a specific algorithm works through the computation process.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Explain how the PageRank of a website is determined.
- Understand the general concept of an algorithm, as well as its capabilities of making calculations fast and easy.