Application of computational thinking in education: strategies for the development of 21st-century competencies
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63688/806c5n20Keywords:
computational thinking, education, 21st-century competencies, programming, problem solvingAbstract
Computational thinking is a fundamental competency for addressing the educational, social, and technological challenges of the 21st century because it enables learners to formulate problems, organize information, identify patterns, and design logical and systematic solutions. The objective of this article was to analyze the application of computational thinking in education and identify the pedagogical strategies that contribute to the development of critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, digital competence, and problem-solving skills. The study was conducted through a systematic literature review with a qualitative, documentary, and analytical approach, following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Academic databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, ACM Digital Library, SpringerLink, ERIC, and Google Scholar were consulted, and 21 studies published between 2006 and 2024 were included. The findings show that visual programming, educational robotics, unplugged activities, problem-based learning, and interdisciplinary projects strengthen decomposition, abstraction, algorithmic design, and debugging. It is concluded that effective integration requires teacher training, appropriate assessment criteria, and equitable access to technological resources.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Jorge Eduardo Fernández Acevedo, José Luis García, Anabel Lisbeth Naranjo Brito, Karolayn Alejandra Sánchez Ronquillo, Félix Javier Gómez Freire (Autor/a)
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