To expand on Wing’s definition of computational thinking (Wing, 2006), computational participation is then defined as the ability to solve problems, design systems, and understand human behavior in the context of computing not as an individualistic act but as a communal practice that allows for participation in networked communities.

[The] impetus to share and connect with others through code is characteristic of a wider shift toward computational participation. Whereas computational thinking uses an algorithmic lens toward problem solving, computational participation extends this thinking beyond the individual to integrate social networks and digital tools in a networked society. It is not simply a matter of figuring out problems but creating content as a means of finding and connecting with other adolescents and like-minded creators.

Computational participation involves solving problems, designing systems, and understanding human behavior in the context of computing.

In this book, we argue that computational thinking needs to be thought of as computational participation because the Computer programs that are being created, used, repurposed, and shared have become our social connections. This view of code as connected has implications for how programming is learned, what is being designed, and where and how it is being shared.