Mapping the Evolution of Computational Thinking in Education: A Bibliometrics Analysis of Scopus Database from 1987 to 2023

Abstract

In today's world, the ability to think computationally is essential. The skillset expected of a computer scientist is no longer solely based on the old stereotype but also a crucial skill for adapting to the future. This perspective presents a new educational challenge for society. Everyone must have a positive attitude toward understanding and using these skills daily. One thousand two hundred seven documents about computational thinking (CT) may be found while searching the Scopus database from 1987 to 2023. Data from Scopus were analyzed using VOSviewer software. This study educates academics by delving into the fundamentals of what is known about the CT of visual and quantitative research skills. This approach allows for a more in-depth look at the literature and a better understanding of the research gap in CT. This bibliometrics analysis demonstrates that (1) research on CT is common to all sciences and will develop in the future; (2) the majority of articles on CT are published in journals in the fields of education, engineering, science and technology, computing and the social sciences; (3) the United States is the most dominant country in CT publications with a variety of collaborations; (4) keywords that often appear are CT, engineering, education, and mathematics, and (5) research on CT has developed significantly since 2013. Our investigation reveals the beginnings and progression of the academic field of research into CT. Furthermore, it offers a road map indicating how this study area will expand in the coming years.

Creative programming in architecture: a computational thinking approach

“…In addition, the methodology of prototyping software applications involves knowing how to handle the processes of computational thinking (Melro et al, 2023) (Romero et al, 2017): abstraction, algorithmic thinking, automation, decomposition, debugging and generalization (Cansu & Cansu, 2019) (Rafiq et al, 2023) (Wing, 2008). It is thus demonstrated that problem solving processes, widely known in programming environments, are also applicable to the architectural discipline, being used to drive creativity and formal generation (Cannaerts, 2016).…”

“…This observation is the pedagogical foundation of computational thinking (Wing, 2008) (Osio & Bailón, 2020). It is a problem-solving model that has sparked growing interest in the academic community, specially during the last decade (Rafiq et al, 2023), and is still the object of research, for which multiple definitions exist (Cansu & Cansu, 2019). According to Jeannette Wing (2011), CT "is the thought process involved in formulating problems and their solutions so that the solutions are represented in a form that can be effectively carried out by an information-processing agent."…”

“…According to Jeannette Wing (2011), CT "is the thought process involved in formulating problems and their solutions so that the solutions are represented in a form that can be effectively carried out by an information-processing agent." Information programmers have traditionally carried out these processes in developing applications: abstraction, algorithmic thinking, automation, decomposition, debugging and generalization (Cansu & Cansu, 2019) (Rafiq et al, 2023) (Wing, 2008). The proposal of advocates of CT as an educational competence involves transferring these thought processes to the classroom so that students acquire problem-solving skills.…”

“…In contrast, using digital tools based on the acquisition of skills for problem-solving is present in prior educational stages (primary education, secondary education). Numerous authors refer to these skills as "computational thinking" (CT) (Cansu & Cansu, 2019) (Romero, Lepage, & Lille, 2017) (Wing, 2008) (Rafiq et al, 2023).…”

The Impact of the Fuzzy Delphi Technique on Technology Methods Based on Design Thinking

“…Many studies reveal how the use of technology can increase the level of creativity, innovation and design thinking in the next guiding question, allowing students to consider technologies that could be leveraged to work on the project more efficiently (Pacheco-Velázquez et al, 2023;Rafiq et al, 2023). This includes videos, tutorials, and self-study sites to gain a deeper understanding before solving a problem.…”