Curriculum
Computer Science for Societal Challenges and Innovation, XXXVIII series
Grant sponsor
University Scholarships co-funded by the Departments DPG, DPSS, DM
Supervisor

Tullio Vardanega
Co-supervisor
s
Barbara Arfè
Contact
gabriele.pozzan@studenti.unipd.it

Project description
My project aims to advance scientific knowledge in the field at the intersection of research on Computational Thinking (CT), cognitive development (specifically Executive Function, EF skills) and Learning Analytics (LA). CT skills (e.g., abstraction, decomposition, generalization, debugging and algorithms) generalize concepts central to the body of knowledge of Informatics and can be powerful problem-solving tools for people from all walks of life. LA is "the measurement, collection, analysis and reporting of data about learners and their contexts, for the purposes of understanding and optimising learning and the environment in which it occurs" (LAK2011). Recent research (e.g., Di Lieto et. al, 2017, Arfé et al. 2019, 2020) has shown that training CT skills in young children positively impacts their cognitive development, in particular EF skills. I will be collaborating with an interdisciplinary research group composed of psychologists and computer scientists and focus on extending the analysis of CT processes (human-machine interaction) and outcomes (e.g. programming artifacts) using LA techniques. A further goal of my studies is exploring new, more immersive ways to improve the development of CT skills (and the learning of Informatics), with a particular interest in visuospatial and adaptive learning.