Algorithm
A set of instructions or rules a computer follows to solve a problem or perform a task.
🧠 What It Means
Algorithms are like recipes, clear, ordered steps to get a result. In AI, they power how tools sort, search, or make decisions. From search engines to streaming suggestions, algorithms shape what we see and do online.
🎓 Why It Matters in School
Understanding algorithms helps students think logically, break down big problems, and see the hidden rules behind digital systems. It builds foundations in math, coding, and media literacy.
👩🏫 How to Explain by Age Group
Elementary (K–5)
“An algorithm is like a set of instructions or a game plan. In the classroom, we can think of it as a step-by-step way to complete a task, like following a recipe or building with LEGO.”
Middle School (6–8)
“Students learn that algorithms help computers sort, search, or decide things. It's not just code, it’s also the logic behind what appears on their social media or school tools.”
High School (9–12)
"This concept lays the foundation for understanding computer science. Algorithms drive search engines, navigation apps, and nearly every AI system. Knowing how they work helps students analyze digital decisions.”
🚀 Classroom Expeditions
Mini-journeys into AI thinking.
Elementary (K–5)
Give each student a task like 'tie your shoes' or 'make a sandwich.' Have them write every step. Then swap with a partner and act it out. Discuss what happens if a step is missing.
Middle School (6–8)
In pairs, students write instructions for sorting objects by size or color. Then trade with another group and 'debug' any confusing steps. Connect this to how computers learn from data.
High School (9–12)
Ask students to write a basic algorithm to decide what after-school activity to do (based on mood, weather, time). Then compare how AI uses logic trees or flowcharts to make decisions.
✨ Vervotex Spark
The Word ‘Algorithm’ Comes from a Real Person
The term “algorithm” comes from the name of a 9th-century Persian mathematician, Al-Khwarizmi. His writings introduced the decimal system to Europe.
