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Robotín's Mission: A Computer-Free Interactive Game for Teaching Computational Thinking at Any Educational Level

10.24050/reia.v23i46.1862
Published 2026-09-17
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Abstract

In today's technological era, fostering computational thinking (CT) at any educational level is essential, as it enables the development of key skills such as problem-solving, logical reasoning, and process structuring. However, engaging with this type of thinking may not be straightforward in many schools, particularly those lacking access to digital tools or specific computer science training. In light of this situation, this paper presents a board game designed to introduce a fundamental mental process in algorithm construction without the need for a computer. This game, called Robotín's Mission, aims to foster the development of CT in a playful, intuitive, and accessible way. It has been implemented across different educational levels, including elementary, middle, high school, and university, in various schools in the state of Yucatán, Mexico. Through multiple gameplay sessions, its effectiveness and acceptance among students have been evaluated. To date, Robotín's Mission has been presented on more than 10 occasions and has been played by more than 200 students, who have shown a high degree of engagement and interest. This paper describes the game's design, its components, rules, implementation dynamics, and the experiences gathered across the different educational levels where it has been tested. It also discusses the benefits this type of tool can offer in teaching CT and its potential for future educational applications.

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