Computational Thinking: Methods, Tools, and their Relationships with the Development of 21st Century Skills in Elementary Education: A Systematic Mapping of the Literature

Abstract

Context: The advancement of digital technologies demands new skills for life in society, especially in the school environment. In this context, Computational Thinking (CT) is recognized as fundamental for promoting creativity, logical reasoning, problem-solving, and collaboration. Objective: To present a systematic literature mapping that serves as a reference basis for teachers and researchers, highlighting how CT has been applied in elementary education and its relationship with the development of 21st-century skills. Methodology: The Systematic Literature Mapping (SLM) method by Petersen et al. (2008) was adopted, following Scannavino et al. (2017) and Silva et al. (2018), with steps for defining research questions, search strings, inclusion/exclusion criteria, and quality assessment. A total of 484 studies were identified in national and international databases, of which 88 were selected as the most relevant. Results: It was observed that tools such as Scratch, educational robotics, games, narratives, and immersive technologies develop skills such as abstraction, logical reasoning, critical thinking, and collaboration, aligning with General Competencies 2 and 5 of the BNCC. Conclusion: Thus, the study demonstrates that PC enhances meaningful learning and contributes to the implementation of the skills outlined by the BNCC, while also highlighting challenges related to teacher training and assessment.