Computing
Computing provides the tools and methods for solving complex problems. It is essential for enabling the design and optimization of innovative technologies and systems.
The term “computing” encompasses a wide range of information technology, computer science, and other computing-related activities, curricula, and professions. These all share a common characteristic: they involve participants in creating or adapting technology (e.g., developing applications/software, programming, developing hardware, coming up with new technical devices or solutions) rather than in using technology (e.g., using word processors, databases, or other software). As the backbone of modern technology, computing permeates every aspect of society and drives innovation in various fields, from artificial intelligence to data analytics, enabling the creation of complex systems that enhance our daily lives.
Engineers play a crucial role in applying computing principles to solve real-world problems. They develop software applications, design and manage databases, and create systems that improve efficiency and functionality across industries. For instance, software engineers write code that powers everything from mobile apps to large-scale systems, while computer engineers focus on the hardware, designing processors and circuits that make advanced computing possible.
The collaboration between computing and engineering is essential in today’s technology-driven world. Engineers use computing tools and concepts to design, test, and optimize products and processes. Whether it’s developing cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive data or creating algorithms for self-driving cars, the integration of computing with engineering disciplines drives innovation and pushes the boundaries of what’s possible. This partnership continues to shape the future, making it an exciting field for the next generation of engineers.
Computing Curricula
Explore the world of computing with your K-12 students through the resources featured here, by grade band, and showcase how engineers tackle exciting challenges in coding, problem-solving, and technology.
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ActivityVideoActing Like an AlgorithmThis activity allows students to gain a better understanding for how algorithms work. Students engage in an activity which symbolizes the Google…
ActivityVideoLight-Up Plush PalsStudents make their own design decisions about controlling the LEDs in a light-up, e-textile circuit, plush toy project that they make using LilyPad…
ActivitySensors for Our HeartsHow can we design and employ simple sensors to give us accurate information about the human body? In this activity, students make sense of how the…
LessonVideoAlgorithms and Everyday LifeAlgorithms are one of the foundations of our technological world, and are driven by the scientists and engineers behind the scenes that write all of…
ActivityMindful Messages: Engineering Communication SolutionsStudents explore how the brain enables communication through spoken and written language and how communication is essential for solving problems.…
ActivityBright Ideas: Exploring Light Reflection and Sun Safety With Micro:BitsStudents engage in a hands-on exploration of vision and light reflection by creating a program that simulates light intensity and how our eyes…
ActivityDon’t Be Tardy! An Arduino Warning SystemStudents engineer a device to alert peers who are about to be late to class. To do this, students first define the problem and success criteria for…
ActivityVideoFlow Charting App Inventor TutorialsStudents design and create flow charts for the MIT App Inventor tutorials in this computer science activity about program analysis. In program…
ActivityVideoUsing Jupyter Notebooks to Explore WavesAs an introduction to analyzing sinusoidal waves, students learn how to use a Jupyter Notebook. They learn how to identify the frequency, wavelength…
ActivityLearn to Throw, Throw to Learn: A Machine Learning JourneyStudents embark on an interactive journey through the Engineering Design Process (EDP) to develop, test, and refine a system aimed at enhancing the…
ActivityMake a Shoebox Arcade ControllerWhat is inside a video game controller? Students learn about simple circuits and switches as they build arcade controllers using a cardboard box and…
ActivityDesigning and Packaging a Distance-Sensing ProductStudents begin by following instructions to connect a Sunfounder Ultrasonic Sensor and an Arduino Microcontroller. Once they have them set up…
ActivityTrigonometric Functions in My Heart: Modeling PPG Pulses with Basic Trigonometric FunctionsStudents learn that trigonometric functions can model how their hearts work and can provide important information about their cardiovascular…
ActivityVideoComputer Simulation of an Artificial Neural NetworkUsing the Netlogo platform to run simulations of a basic neural network called the perceptron, students explore a basic, yet powerful, model of…
Activity3D Printing, Computer Aided Design (CAD) and G-Code BasicsStudents learn how 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is revolutionizing the manufacturing process. First, students learn what…
ActivityHurricane! Saving Lives via Logical Reasoning & Computer ScienceStudents use a hurricane tracking map to measure the distance from a specific latitude and longitude location of the eye of a hurricane to a city.…
ActivityVideoPhysical Computing Using Arduinos: Making LEDs Blink and FadeStudents download the software needed to create Arduino programs and make sure their Arduino microcontrollers work correctly. Then, they connect an…
ActivityVideoBuild Your Own Night-Light with ArduinoWhether you want to light up a front step or a bathroom, it helps to have a light come on automatically when darkness falls. For this maker…









