First Steps towards K-12 Computer Science Education in Portugal -- Experience Report

TL;DR

This paper reports on Portugal's pilot efforts to integrate computing into K-12 education, emphasizing computational thinking, mathematical modeling, and functional programming to enhance problem-solving skills.

Contribution

It introduces a structured framework for teaching computing in Portuguese schools, based on pilot projects and focusing on computational thinking and functional programming.

Findings

Engaged 4500 students across 35 schools

Developed a preliminary syllabus for computing education

Demonstrated feasibility of integrating computational thinking in K-12

Abstract

Computer scientists Jeannette Wing and Simon Peyton Jones have catalyzed a pivotal discussion on the need to introduce computing in K-12 mandatory education. In Wing's own words, computing 'represents a universally applicable attitude and skill set everyone, not just computer scientists, would be eager to learn and use.'' The crux of this educational endeavor lies in its execution. This paper reports on the efforts of the ENSICO association to implement such aims in Portugal. Starting with pilot projects in a few schools in 2020, it is currently working with 4500 students, 35 schools and 100 school teachers. The main aim is to gain enough experience and knowledge to eventually define a comprehensive syllabus for teaching computing as a mandatory subject throughout the basic and secondary levels of the Portuguese educational system. A structured framework for integrating computational thinking into K-12 education is proposed, with a particular emphasis on mathematical modeling and the functional programming paradigm. This approach is chosen for its potential to promote analytical and problem-solving skills of computational thinking aligned with the core background on maths and science.