Thinking and computing: toward a conceptual critique of computational thinking

This article offers a conceptual critique of computational thinking (CT), understood as a notion that oscillates between an informal conception –associated with general cognitive abilities such as abstraction, analysis, and structured problem-solving– and a technical conception, tied to automation a...

Descripción completa

Guardado en:
Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor principal: Chmiel, Alejandro
Formato: Artículo revista
Lenguaje:Español
Publicado: IRICE (CONICET-UNR) 2025
Materias:
computational thinking
formalization
automation
conceptual critique
problem solving
pensamiento computacional
formalización
automatización
crítica conceptual
resolución de problemas
Acceso en línea:https://ojs.rosario-conicet.gov.ar/index.php/revistairice/article/view/2093
Aporte de:
Revista IRICE (CONICET) de Universidad Nacional de Rosario
id I15-R240-article-2093
record_format ojs
institution Universidad Nacional de Rosario
institution_str I-15
repository_str R-240
container_title_str Revista IRICE (CONICET)
language Español
format Artículo revista
topic computational thinking
formalization
automation
conceptual critique
problem solving
pensamiento computacional
formalización
automatización
crítica conceptual
resolución de problemas
spellingShingle computational thinking
formalization
automation
conceptual critique
problem solving
pensamiento computacional
formalización
automatización
crítica conceptual
resolución de problemas
Chmiel, Alejandro
Thinking and computing: toward a conceptual critique of computational thinking
topic_facet computational thinking
formalization
automation
conceptual critique
problem solving
pensamiento computacional
formalización
automatización
crítica conceptual
resolución de problemas
author Chmiel, Alejandro
author_facet Chmiel, Alejandro
author_sort Chmiel, Alejandro
title Thinking and computing: toward a conceptual critique of computational thinking
title_short Thinking and computing: toward a conceptual critique of computational thinking
title_full Thinking and computing: toward a conceptual critique of computational thinking
title_fullStr Thinking and computing: toward a conceptual critique of computational thinking
title_full_unstemmed Thinking and computing: toward a conceptual critique of computational thinking
title_sort thinking and computing: toward a conceptual critique of computational thinking
description This article offers a conceptual critique of computational thinking (CT), understood as a notion that oscillates between an informal conception –associated with general cognitive abilities such as abstraction, analysis, and structured problem-solving– and a technical conception, tied to automation and the use of computational formalisms. Based on this ambiguity, a gradualist framework is developed to distinguish between informal and technical CT according to three key components: the problem being addressed, the expressive means used for its representation and resolution, and the agent responsible for executing the solution. It is argued that the level of formalization required depends on context, and that the general cognitive abilities involved in the formulation and evaluation of problems should be acknowledged as constitutive elements of CT. This approach aims to preserve its epistemic function and avoid a purely instrumental reduction. The proposal seeks to move beyond an overly technical view of CT and to support its understanding as a complex practice that interweaves cognitive, technical, and educational dimensions, progressively unfolding across different educational stages. The article concludes that a definition of CT focused exclusively on automation disrupts the historical continuity of algorithmic thinking and weakens its pedagogical articulation across learning levels, although it also acknowledges that an orientation toward automation remains a distinctive and transversal feature of CT.
publisher IRICE (CONICET-UNR)
publishDate 2025
url https://ojs.rosario-conicet.gov.ar/index.php/revistairice/article/view/2093
work_keys_str_mv AT chmielalejandro thinkingandcomputingtowardaconceptualcritiqueofcomputationalthinking
AT chmielalejandro pensarycomputarhaciaunacriticaconceptualalpensamientocomputacional
first_indexed 2026-02-04T05:03:32Z
last_indexed 2026-02-04T05:03:32Z
_version_ 1856169745027432448
spelling I15-R240-article-20932026-02-02T14:21:30Z Thinking and computing: toward a conceptual critique of computational thinking Pensar y computar: hacia una crítica conceptual al pensamiento computacional Chmiel, Alejandro computational thinking formalization automation conceptual critique problem solving pensamiento computacional formalización automatización crítica conceptual resolución de problemas This article offers a conceptual critique of computational thinking (CT), understood as a notion that oscillates between an informal conception –associated with general cognitive abilities such as abstraction, analysis, and structured problem-solving– and a technical conception, tied to automation and the use of computational formalisms. Based on this ambiguity, a gradualist framework is developed to distinguish between informal and technical CT according to three key components: the problem being addressed, the expressive means used for its representation and resolution, and the agent responsible for executing the solution. It is argued that the level of formalization required depends on context, and that the general cognitive abilities involved in the formulation and evaluation of problems should be acknowledged as constitutive elements of CT. This approach aims to preserve its epistemic function and avoid a purely instrumental reduction. The proposal seeks to move beyond an overly technical view of CT and to support its understanding as a complex practice that interweaves cognitive, technical, and educational dimensions, progressively unfolding across different educational stages. The article concludes that a definition of CT focused exclusively on automation disrupts the historical continuity of algorithmic thinking and weakens its pedagogical articulation across learning levels, although it also acknowledges that an orientation toward automation remains a distinctive and transversal feature of CT. Este artículo propone una crítica conceptual al pensamiento computacional (PC), entendido como una noción que oscila entre una concepción informal –asociada a habilidades cognitivas generales como la abstracción, el análisis y la resolución estructurada de problemas– y una concepción técnica, vinculada a la automatización y al uso de formalismos computacionales. A partir de esta ambigüedad, se desarrolla un marco gradualista que permite distinguir entre PC informal y PC técnico en función de tres componentes fundamentales: el problema que se aborda, los medios expresivos empleados para su representación y resolución, y el agente encargado de ejecutar la solución. Se argumenta que el nivel de formalización requerido depende del contexto y que las capacidades cognitivas generales implicadas en la formulación y evaluación de problemas deben ser reconocidas como parte constitutiva del PC. Esto permite preservar su función epistémica y evitar una reducción puramente instrumental. La propuesta busca superar una concepción excesivamente técnica del PC y contribuir a su comprensión como una práctica compleja que articula dimensiones cognitivas, técnicas y formativas, desplegándose progresivamente a lo largo de diferentes niveles educativos. El trabajo concluye que una definición del PC centrada exclusivamente en la automatización rompe con la continuidad histórica del pensamiento algorítmico y debilita su articulación pedagógica entre etapas formativas, si bien reconoce que la orientación hacia la automatización constituye un rasgo distintivo y transversal del PC. IRICE (CONICET-UNR) 2025-12-30 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion application/pdf text/html application/zip https://ojs.rosario-conicet.gov.ar/index.php/revistairice/article/view/2093 10.35305/revistairice.vi49.2093 Revista IRICE; Núm. 49 (2025); e2093 2618-4052 0327-392X spa https://ojs.rosario-conicet.gov.ar/index.php/revistairice/article/view/2093/3424 https://ojs.rosario-conicet.gov.ar/index.php/revistairice/article/view/2093/3425 https://ojs.rosario-conicet.gov.ar/index.php/revistairice/article/view/2093/3426 Derechos de autor 2025 Alejandro Chmiel https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0

Ejemplares similares