Computational Thinking and Digital Games: Developing Skills With Fun

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Several researchers consider the importance of Computational Thinking being presented and developed from the earliest years of basic education and, furthermore, that digital games can be one of the vehicles to introduce it to children in schools. However, before developing new game solutions for this purpose, it is important to recognize how games can actually contribute to develop Computational Thinking, as well as to identify which skills have been worked on. OBJECTIVE: In this sense, this article presents the synthesis of a systematic mapping, whose objective was to identify how digital games can be used to develop Computational Thinking skills. METHOD: The objective was met by a systematic literature mapping executed by two reviewers and an expert. RESULTS: It was possible to identify some games used to stimulate the development of Computational Thinking skills, as well as the mechanics used by these games. CONCLUSION: It has been found that puzzle games are most commonly used to develop skills in Computational Reasoning. It has also been observed that the abilities of Abstraction and Algorithmic Thinking are the main skills developed in these games.