Computational thinking in early childhood education: an analysis through the Computer Science Unplugged

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47553/rifop.v98i36.2.94881

Abstract

There has been an increased determination to introduce coding and computational thinking early in education. So, programming has progressively grown and got an essential focus in European education following international trends. This idea of introducing computer programming into the classroom it’s not recent; it came in 1960 by the investigations of Seymour Papert. The potentialities of teaching children's programming languages as an incubator of powerful ideas started in that decade, but it extended and continues to be used nowadays in a vast way. The programming was used to engage children in new ways of thinking, but much more critical than that, putting the student in a role to think about the thinking process. So with this context in mind, we aim to present a series of important ideas that rule the way that Computational Thinking could be applied inside of the Pre-School classroom. For that, we identify in this research the strategies and methodologies that allow teachers to implement these activities with children. Stating good practices and tools, pointing out some tips and ideas on designing projects in Pre-School Education that will allow the working of the computational thinking with the students of the XXI century.

Author Biography

Pedro Jose Arrifano Tadeu , ESECD-CI&DEI (Center for Studies in Education and Innovation) - Polytechnic Institute of Guarda

Professor in the field of Mathematics Education at Polytechnic of Guarda (IPG), Post-Doc in Problem solving Skills at Kindergarten (Institute of Education, Faculty of Education, Sakarya University, Turkey), Ph.D. in Didactical and Technology - specialization in Didactical Mathematics (UTAD, Vila-Real), master's degree in Mathematics Education, degree in Mathematics Education (Faculty of Education, Coimbra University). Coordinator of Research Center related to Education and Innovation (CI&DEI - http://www.ipv.pt/cidei/english.htm - Guarda), Dean of HEI - School of Education, Communication and Sport, Polytechnic of Guarda, from 12/01/2015 until 14/01/2019. Member of the Executive Commission of CEI - (Centro de Estudos Ibéricos http://www.cei.pt/cei/estrutura.htm) from 12/01/2015 until 14/01/2019. Member of the board of UDI from 02/2012 until 12/2014 (Research Unit for Inland Development http://www.ipg.pt/udi/). Develops research in the area of Mathematics Education, ICT, Multicultural Education, ICT and Inclusion, Innovation in Education and Entrepreneurship Education. Has several scientific publications and develops activity with different HEI from Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Sweden, Denmark, Lithuania, Latvia, Romania, Czech Republic, Hungary, Belgium, Germany, Albania, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Brazil, Colombia, Cabo-Verde, Angola among others, is evaluator for ERASMUS+ Portuguese Agency and European COST projects. Coordinator of an ERASMUS+ KA2 Project TELESEICT from 2016-09 to 2019-08 Grant Number: 2016-1-PT01-KA203-022950

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Published

2022-07-26 — Updated on 2022-07-29

How to Cite

Arrifano Tadeu, P. J., & Brigas, C. (2022). Computational thinking in early childhood education: an analysis through the Computer Science Unplugged. Revista Interuniversitaria De Formación Del Profesorado. Continuación De La Antigua Revista De Escuelas Normales, 97(36.2). https://doi.org/10.47553/rifop.v98i36.2.94881

Issue

Vol. 97 No. 36.2 (2022): Good teaching practices on teacher training

Section

Monográfico

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