Uma análise do impacto da experiência prévia com pensamento computacional no desempenho de estudantes em programação no ensino superior

Abstract

This paper aims to study the effect of previous contact with Computational Thinking instudents of higher education courses. Computational Thinking is a skill that aims to de-velop logical thinking and algorithmic thinking on an ongoing and lifelong basis, helpingthem to solve personal and professional life problems using the techniques of computer science. According to research, more than 50% of students in computer courses willdrop out of the course and one of the main reasons is the difficulty in learning and as-similating the basic and advanced concepts of programming, becoming unmotivated.Thus, this work investigated the feasibility of using computational thinking to help thosestudents with programming learning difficulties. Therefore, two student profiles wereidentified, who had contact with Computational Thinking before and after attending Pro-gramming, and questionnaires were applied to evaluate the perspectives they had onthedisciplineanditsbenefit,whethertheuseofComputationalThinkingwasproductiveor not. Two teachers from the UFRPE Computer Degree course were also interviewedto examine their perspective on Computational Thinking on student performance, com-paring students who had contact before and after attending Programming. From thestudents’ perspective, the use of Computational Thinking assists them in cognitive de-velopment, improving logical thinking and algorithmic thinking, and programming learn-ing. Teachers believe that Computational Thinking cognitively prepares students forProgramming, reducing the effort to assimilate the basics and seeing this approach asan improvement for students.