Today it has been made official in the BOE or Official State Gazette that computational thinking It will be part of the minimum teachings of early childhood education from the next course. Specifically, in area 2, which is Discovery and Exploration of the Environment.
This area is intended to promote the process of discovery, observation and exploration of the physical and natural elements of the environment. According to the BOE, it is an element that provokes emotions and surprises. The aim is to reinforce their willingness to investigate, a progressively questioning attitude and is encouraged to propose diversified solutions.
This decision contrasts with another that could be underway. A few days ago, the intention of the current Government to abolish the subject of Information and Communication Technologies, traditionally known as the ‘Computer Science subject’, came to light on the occasion of the implementation of our umpteenth educational reform, the LOMLOE .
What is known about computational thinking
The information that there is regarding this computational thinking that will arrive in early childhood education classrooms in Spain from next year is that it will be developed progressively together with the procedures of the scientific method “through processes of observation and manipulation of objects, to begin in the interpretation of the environment and respond creatively to situations and challenges that arise”.
It is intended to lay the foundations for scientific thinking, investigative initiative and curiosity for knowledge in the Early Childhood Education stage. For it, students must find original and creative solutions or alternatives to different questions, challenges or situations. And it will do so through the application of initially simple and manipulative processes, which will progressively gain in complexity.
“These processes are characteristic of both computational and design thinking skills as well as the scientific method, and they will be applied by breaking down a task into simpler ones, formulating and testing hypotheses, exploring and investigating, relating knowledge and proposing original ideas or solutions”, as described by the BOE.
Other news announced today
In addition to computational thinking, it is sought that children in early childhood education can receive new teachings. For example, within what has been baptized as “essential skills”, there will be new teachings that help develop critical thinkingproblem solving, teamwork, communication and negotiation skills, analytical skills, creativity and intercultural skills.
According to the authorities, they make it easier for boys and girls to discovery, knowledge and understanding of their realitywhich covers, among others, the environment and objects, organizations and social relations, the different languages to communicate ideas, intentions or experiences in a respectful and creative way.