New Books in Education Elliot Lichtman, "The Computer Always Wins: A Playful Introduction to Algorithms through Puzzles and Strategy Games" (MIT Press, 2025)
10 snips
Jun 22, 2025 
Elliot Lichtman, a Yale University junior and author, shares his passion for simplifying algorithms through engaging games. He discusses how he adapted computer science teaching during the pandemic from one-on-one sessions to larger groups, using puzzles and strategy games to make coding concepts fun. Lichtman illustrates problem-solving with games like Wordle and examines the evolution of algorithms in classics like chess. He highlights AI's transformative role in healthcare, enhancing diagnostics and drug discovery, all while sparking curiosity in young learners.
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Teaching Sparks Book Creation
- Elliot Lichtman started teaching computer science over Zoom during the pandemic with his high school friends.
- Growing interest from students wanting to solve game problems inspired him to develop tutoring materials and eventually the book.
Start Teaching Algorithms Early
- Focus on teaching algorithms early as they require only basic coding and can be done with pen and paper.
- Use simple language like Python to keep code readable and accessible for beginners.
Wordle and Binary Search Teaching
- Lichtman uses Wordle as a first example to teach binary search and weighted average strategies.
- He explains how guessing to minimize remaining options can efficiently solve puzzles like Wordle and Guess Who.