PENSAMENTO COMPUTACIONAL DESPLUGADO NA EDUCAÇÃO INFANTIL: UMA INVESTIGAÇÃO EM UM CMEI DE CALDAS NOVAS – GO

Abstract

This research investigated how the integration of unplugged activities can contribute to the cognitive development of children in early childhood education, with a focus on computational thinking. The study's general objective was to investigate the integration of unplugged activities in the cognitive development of children in early childhood education, with an emphasis on the development of computational thinking. The specific objectives included mapping normative documents related to early childhood education, identifying the challenges faced by teachers, proposing solutions for the implementation of computational thinking, and developing a pedagogical e-book containing external unplugged activities for this audience. Using a qualitative approach, the study was conducted through a literature review and field research in a Municipal Early Childhood Education Center (CMEI) in the city of Caldas Novas, Goiás. The results indicated that, although there are solid normative guidelines for the integral development of children, there are still gaps regarding the inclusion of computational thinking by teachers. The investigation also revealed that teachers face challenges related to training, time, and resources. Unplugged activities have proven to be an effective approach, promoting children's engagement and contributing to the development of cognitive skills in a playful and meaningful way. The educational e-book to be developed will present theoretical foundations and practical proposals, offering a valuable resource for educators. In this way, the research achieved its objectives and contributed to the strengthening of computational thinking in early childhood education, pointing out paths for future research.