Pensamento computacional e programação introdutória: um estudo de caso sobre competências desenvolvidas na programação em blocos com o code.org

Abstract

Computational thinking stands out as a new approach to solving problems in the contemporary world. And is characterized by go beyond the mental processes, it involved attitudes and values that brought together form the skills so necessary for everyday tasks increasingly computerized. As computers become indispensable resources in aid of the professional human activities, it is necessary to prepare new generations to exercise that dominance, and the Introductory Programming is a gateway to this as it also contributes to the development of skills from the computational thinking. This work tries to understand this relationship investigating learning introductory programming with the Code.org platform and the development of computational thinking in middle school students. For this we conducted a case study on the platform to identify the skills promoted in students through the activities of programming in blocks or Visual Programming, was also carried out an experimental test in a programming workshop to identify what skills students have developed. The results of the case study showed that there is a set of computational concepts and practices promoted in programming activities in Code.org platform which can be understood as a computational thinking skills. The result of the test applied in the workshop demonstrated evidence that students can develop and extend these powers after the teaching of introductory programming, but there is still a need for more research to deepen knowledge and reach conclusions on how and what skills are developed in this relationship.