Developing structural component of computational thinking using the algorithmic primitives method

Problem statement. A modern specialist necessary quality is structural thinking, a skill with which a person is able to decompose a complex task into subtasks and create integral structures from a set of elements. The goal of the study is to substantiate the algorithmic primitives method to create a methodology for the development of a structural component of students’ computational thinking in the cluster of disciplines “Programming - Numerical Methods - Information Technologies in Education”. Methodology. The algorithmic primitives method is based on introduction of the concept “algorithmic primitive” understood as a template for an algorithm for solving elementary problems, from the set of which algorithms for solving complex problems can be built. Creation of the primitive is carried out with the use of mental schemes of subject area. Such an approach allows to automate practically all stages of training and to create e-learning tools. Results. The algorithmic primitives method for solving problems of various levels of complexity in the cluster of disciplines “Programming - Numerical Methods - Information Technologies in Education” is justified and implemented into educational practice. The training database of algorithmic primitives for e-courses in these disciplines has been created. Conclusion. The method of algorithmic primitives significantly facilitates teaching students to solve problems and contributes to the development of structural component of computational thinking.