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Computational thinking in computer science teacher training courses in Brazil: A survey and a research roadmap

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Abstract

The adoption of computational thinking in the classroom has been growing in the last years. Its use needs to be supported by the correct digital technologies and teaching methods, and for this, is required, capable teachers. This work aims to understand how computational thinking is addressed by Computer Science Teacher Education courses in Brazil, and which digital technologies and teaching methods are used to foster it. A survey was conducted, and a roadmap was built. Main obtained results are: Common and accessible technologies, used in everyday life, can help promote computational thinking; Researchers and teachers can explore the list of technologies surveyed and categorized to promote computational thinking; Teachers can analyze the teaching methods used and understand how these methods are applied in the teaching process; The teachers and researchers can use and explore the best technologies identified in the paper, to foster each computational thinking characteristic. Moreover, it is essential to enhance the knowledge about computational thinking, to apply the correct digital technologies and teaching methods in its promotion.

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Availability of data and material

The questionnaire is available at https://forms.gle/CMN4N7SJqoNRojCY6 and the answers in https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jpkFRmq155mPlguWibaiGwLtt8v-VloQgR74KRsNOys/edit?usp=sharing. All data which may identify the responder was omitted.

Code availability

It was used qualitative code using the available data and quantitative analysis using R software version 4.0.3.

Notes

  1. The PBL is frequently used to denote project-based learning as well as problem-based learning. In this paper, we will not adopt this abbreviation to avoid confusion between the two methods.

  2. The Anísio Teixeira National Institute for Educational Studies and Research (INEP) provide public data from public from Brazilian’s Institutions gathered from Census of Higher Education.

  3. Available at: not available because of peer-review.

  4. Protocol of Presentation Certificate for Ethical Appreciation: 15,900,619.0.0000.8123.

  5. http://emec.mec.gov.br/

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Computer Science Department, Universidade Estadual do Norte do Paraná-UENP, Bandeirantes, Brazil

    André Menolli

  2. Post-Graduate Program in Computer Science, State University of Londrina-UEL, Londrina, Brazil

    André Menolli

  3. Post-Graduate Program in Teaching, Universidade Estadual do Norte do Paraná-UENP, Cornélo Procópio, Brazil

    João Coelho Neto

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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by André Luís Andrade Menolli and João Coelho Neto. The first draft of the manuscript was written by André Luís Andrade Menolli and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Menolli, A., Neto, J.C. Computational thinking in computer science teacher training courses in Brazil: A survey and a research roadmap. Educ Inf Technol 27, 2099–2135 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-021-10667-0

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