Computational Thinking through a Multidisciplinary Escape Room with University Students

Abstract: This paper presents a strategy to foster computational thinking through an unplugged approach with university students at a tutoring fair. Forty-eight students from the bachelor's programs in Software Engineering, Education, Nursing, and Public Accounting participated. The activity, named Multidisciplinary Escape Room, was structured around the four pillars of computational thinking: decomposition, abstraction, pattern recognition, and algorithms. The dynamic also promoted skills such as problem-solving, collaborative work, time management, and logical reasoning in a playful environment. The multidisciplinary approach facilitated the application of computational thinking principles in contexts beyond computer science, demonstrating its transversality. The results indicate that these activities strengthen these competencies and promote skills across multiple disciplines, contributing to the comprehensive development of students..

Keywords: Higher Education, Escape Room, Gamification, Multidisciplinary, Computational Thinking.