{"id":544,"date":"2026-01-28T23:03:20","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T23:03:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/code-in-motion\/?page_id=544"},"modified":"2026-05-12T16:06:49","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T16:06:49","slug":"resources","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/code-in-motion\/resources\/","title":{"rendered":"Glossary"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why computer science?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:29px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"878\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/code-in-motion\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/02\/Code-In-Motion_verticalWeb.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-556\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.911197713691868;width:192px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/code-in-motion\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/02\/Code-In-Motion_verticalWeb.png 800w, https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/code-in-motion\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/02\/Code-In-Motion_verticalWeb-273x300.png 273w, https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/code-in-motion\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2026\/02\/Code-In-Motion_verticalWeb-768x843.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Coding impacts many things in modern life. Coding makes smart phones function or perform actions like controlling traffic lights!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Learning about coding helps students become creators and not just consumers.&nbsp;Coding requires using computational thinking skills. Everyday, we use computational thinking in order to perform small to large tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And anyone can learn to code! Below are some vocabulary words and terms you may hear when people talk about computer science and coding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:53px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"accordion\" id=\"accordion-94\"><div class=\"card\"><div class=\"card-header\" id=\"headingfaq-54\">\n\t\t\t\t        <h5 class=\"mb-0\">\n\t\t\t\t          <button class=\"btn btn-link\" type=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#collapsefaq-54\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapsefaq-54\">\n\t\t\t\t            Block Coding\n\t\t\t\t          <\/button>\n\t\t\t\t        <\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t      <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t      <div id=\"collapsefaq-54\" class=\"collapse\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq-54\" data-parent=\"#accordion-94\">\n\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"card-body\"><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Block coding is a programming method that involves dragging and dropping digital blocks to create code. It is designed for beginner codes to learn programming logic. Scratch is a free block coding program available online.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Code in Motion activities often include using Scratch, a block coding tool. You can see more at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/scratch.mit.edu\/\">https:\/\/scratch.mit.edu\/<\/a><\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t      <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t    <\/div><div class=\"card\"><div class=\"card-header\" id=\"headingfaq-110\">\n\t\t\t\t        <h5 class=\"mb-0\">\n\t\t\t\t          <button class=\"btn btn-link\" type=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#collapsefaq-110\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapsefaq-110\">\n\t\t\t\t            Code\n\t\t\t\t          <\/button>\n\t\t\t\t        <\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t      <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t      <div id=\"collapsefaq-110\" class=\"collapse\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq-110\" data-parent=\"#accordion-94\">\n\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"card-body\"><p>Code refers to a set of written instructions that tell a computer what to do. You can think of it like a recipe or step-by-step guide to follow.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t      <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t    <\/div><div class=\"card\"><div class=\"card-header\" id=\"headingfaq-326\">\n\t\t\t\t        <h5 class=\"mb-0\">\n\t\t\t\t          <button class=\"btn btn-link\" type=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#collapsefaq-326\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapsefaq-326\">\n\t\t\t\t            Coding\n\t\t\t\t          <\/button>\n\t\t\t\t        <\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t      <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t      <div id=\"collapsefaq-326\" class=\"collapse\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq-326\" data-parent=\"#accordion-94\">\n\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"card-body\"><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Coding is a way of giving instructions to a computer so it can complete a task.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Coding is accessible to all learners. <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Coding helps students become creators and not just consumers.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t      <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t    <\/div><div class=\"card\"><div class=\"card-header\" id=\"headingfaq-61\">\n\t\t\t\t        <h5 class=\"mb-0\">\n\t\t\t\t          <button class=\"btn btn-link\" type=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#collapsefaq-61\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapsefaq-61\">\n\t\t\t\t            Computational Thinking (CT)\n\t\t\t\t          <\/button>\n\t\t\t\t        <\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t      <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t      <div id=\"collapsefaq-61\" class=\"collapse\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq-61\" data-parent=\"#accordion-94\">\n\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"card-body\"><p>Computational thinking or CT is a logical approach to problem solving.\u00a0 Primary elements of CT include problem decomposition, pattern recognition, algorithm design, and abstraction, as well as debugging. CT is a way of solving problems in many areas of STEM and everyday life.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t      <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t    <\/div><div class=\"card\"><div class=\"card-header\" id=\"headingfaq-468\">\n\t\t\t\t        <h5 class=\"mb-0\">\n\t\t\t\t          <button class=\"btn btn-link\" type=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#collapsefaq-468\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapsefaq-468\">\n\t\t\t\t            Computer\n\t\t\t\t          <\/button>\n\t\t\t\t        <\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t      <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t      <div id=\"collapsefaq-468\" class=\"collapse\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq-468\" data-parent=\"#accordion-94\">\n\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"card-body\"><p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW265484763 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW265484763 BCX0\">A\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW265484763 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW265484763 BCX0\">computer<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW265484763 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW265484763 BCX0\">\u00a0is a machine that works with information like words, numbers, pictures, sounds, or movies and can process data quickly.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP Selected SCXW265484763 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t      <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t    <\/div><div class=\"card\"><div class=\"card-header\" id=\"headingfaq-19\">\n\t\t\t\t        <h5 class=\"mb-0\">\n\t\t\t\t          <button class=\"btn btn-link\" type=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#collapsefaq-19\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapsefaq-19\">\n\t\t\t\t            Computer Science (CS)\n\t\t\t\t          <\/button>\n\t\t\t\t        <\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t      <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t      <div id=\"collapsefaq-19\" class=\"collapse\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq-19\" data-parent=\"#accordion-94\">\n\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"card-body\"><p><span class=\"TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW226595515 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW226595515 BCX0\">Computer science <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW226595515 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW226595515 BCX0\">explores how computers work and how people use computers to solve problems.<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW226595515 BCX0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP Selected SCXW226595515 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t      <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t    <\/div><div class=\"card\"><div class=\"card-header\" id=\"headingfaq-605\">\n\t\t\t\t        <h5 class=\"mb-0\">\n\t\t\t\t          <button class=\"btn btn-link\" type=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#collapsefaq-605\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapsefaq-605\">\n\t\t\t\t            STEM\n\t\t\t\t          <\/button>\n\t\t\t\t        <\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t      <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t      <div id=\"collapsefaq-605\" class=\"collapse\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq-605\" data-parent=\"#accordion-94\">\n\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"card-body\"><p>STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Computer science is a STEM field.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t      <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t    <\/div><div class=\"card\"><div class=\"card-header\" id=\"headingfaq-357\">\n\t\t\t\t        <h5 class=\"mb-0\">\n\t\t\t\t          <button class=\"btn btn-link\" type=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#collapsefaq-357\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapsefaq-357\">\n\t\t\t\t            Debugging\n\t\t\t\t          <\/button>\n\t\t\t\t        <\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t      <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t      <div id=\"collapsefaq-357\" class=\"collapse\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq-357\" data-parent=\"#accordion-94\">\n\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"card-body\"><p>Debugging refers to systematically isolating errors in solutions to problems and then correcting them to achieve desired outcomes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t      <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t    <\/div><div class=\"card\"><div class=\"card-header\" id=\"headingfaq-110\">\n\t\t\t\t        <h5 class=\"mb-0\">\n\t\t\t\t          <button class=\"btn btn-link\" type=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#collapsefaq-110\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapsefaq-110\">\n\t\t\t\t            Problem Decomposition\n\t\t\t\t          <\/button>\n\t\t\t\t        <\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t      <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t      <div id=\"collapsefaq-110\" class=\"collapse\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq-110\" data-parent=\"#accordion-94\">\n\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"card-body\"><p>Problem decomposition is breaking a problem or task down into smaller, more manageable parts. We do this throughout our day, whether practicing computer science or not.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t      <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t    <\/div><div class=\"card\"><div class=\"card-header\" id=\"headingfaq-730\">\n\t\t\t\t        <h5 class=\"mb-0\">\n\t\t\t\t          <button class=\"btn btn-link\" type=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#collapsefaq-730\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapsefaq-730\">\n\t\t\t\t            Pattern Recognition\n\t\t\t\t          <\/button>\n\t\t\t\t        <\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t      <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t      <div id=\"collapsefaq-730\" class=\"collapse\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq-730\" data-parent=\"#accordion-94\">\n\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"card-body\"><p>Pattern recognition is identifying parts of a problem\/task or solution that repeat.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t      <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t    <\/div><div class=\"card\"><div class=\"card-header\" id=\"headingfaq-308\">\n\t\t\t\t        <h5 class=\"mb-0\">\n\t\t\t\t          <button class=\"btn btn-link\" type=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#collapsefaq-308\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapsefaq-308\">\n\t\t\t\t            Algorithm Design\n\t\t\t\t          <\/button>\n\t\t\t\t        <\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t      <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t      <div id=\"collapsefaq-308\" class=\"collapse\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq-308\" data-parent=\"#accordion-94\">\n\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"card-body\"><p>An algorithm is a sequence of steps.<\/p>\n<p>Algorithm design refers to creating a sequence of steps to be followed to accomplish a task or achieve some desired end(s).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t      <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t    <\/div><div class=\"card\"><div class=\"card-header\" id=\"headingfaq-663\">\n\t\t\t\t        <h5 class=\"mb-0\">\n\t\t\t\t          <button class=\"btn btn-link\" type=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#collapsefaq-663\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapsefaq-663\">\n\t\t\t\t            Abstraction\n\t\t\t\t          <\/button>\n\t\t\t\t        <\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t      <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t      <div id=\"collapsefaq-663\" class=\"collapse\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq-663\" data-parent=\"#accordion-94\">\n\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"card-body\"><p>Abstraction is identifying and focusing on the relevant parts of a problem or task to create generalizations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t      <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t    <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Explore more <a href=\"https:\/\/csteachers.org\/k12standards\/glossary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">information<\/a> from the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/code-in-motion\/faqs\/703\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-fullwidth.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"139,218,1,106","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-544","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/code-in-motion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/544","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/code-in-motion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/code-in-motion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/code-in-motion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/code-in-motion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=544"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/code-in-motion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/544\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1034,"href":"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/code-in-motion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/544\/revisions\/1034"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/code-in-motion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=544"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}