Using Computational Thinking as a tool to support teaching in Professional and Technological Education
Computational Thinking; Z Generation; Legislation.
Individuals born between 1997 and 2012, in a world immersed in new technologies and using digital media as an integral part of their lives, constitute the sociologically defined group known as Generation "Z" and are characterized as particularly proficient with new information and communication technologies. The students entering technical education in the Federal Network of Professional, Scientific, and Technological Education are part of this Generation Z. The Federal Network of Professional, Scientific, and Technological Education plays a fundamental role in the development of education and vocational training in Brazil, contributing to the country's economic development by training professionals capable of working in various industries and trades, as well as offering research and studies for technological advancements that contribute to the progress of science and technology. Learning to think in a structured manner like a programmer, developing logical solutions to problems, evaluating the efficiency of these solutions, and working in teams are fundamental attributes for success in the contemporary world and empower those who develop them. Individuals from Generation Z tend to have an easier time developing these characteristics because they are the first generation to be born into the digital technology era and have new habits compared to previous generations. In a new initiative to update students' educational paths, the National Council of Education (CNE), through regulations, incorporated "Computing in Basic Education" into the National Curriculum Common Base (BNCC), divided into three axes: Computational Thinking, Digital Culture, and Digital World. Based on this theme, this research proposes to investigate, within this action developed by the Ministry of Education (MEC), one of its presented aspects: the use of the Computational Thinking axis as a tool to assist teachers in the subjects of the integrated technical courses in the Federal Network of Professional, Technical, and Technological Education.