Robotic Inventions for Parkinson’s Treatment: computational thinking and mathematical teaching

Abstract

Our goal is to identify and analyze the characteristics of Computational Thinking for mathematical students’ training along the production of digital games and robotic devices for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease symptoms. Guided by the qualitative research methodology, data production was carried out with high school students from IF-Goiano, in Ipameri, and at the Hospital Dia do Idoso, in Anápolis. The formative research scenario was created as a place to feel mathematics experiences as a way of life and not as mechanical action and formalisms, which tend to undermine the student’s own way of thinking and inventing in relation to the mathematical and computational knowledge mobilized. In place of definition-example-exercises-answers, we value understanding-invention-results of mathematics and its technologies. The procedural hierarchy content-example-exercises is broken in this conception, giving rise to Parkinson’s research and scientific-technological invention. The data produced were analyzed from elements of Computational Thinking mobilized during the production of the game and the robotic device. The results obtained indicate characteristics of Computational Thinking that are integrated into mathematics training: algorithm, pattern recognition, decomposition and abstraction, based on scientific-technological inventions for the treatment and well-being of affected patients.

Keywords:
Mathematical Teaching; Digital Games; Robotics; Parkinson