Ana Isabel Santos

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Ana Isabel Santos is a leading researcher in educational robotics and computational thinking, with a focus on tangible programming languages (TPL) for early childhood education. Her work centers on integrating coding and robotics into primary school curricula to foster 21st-century digital skills and cooperative problem-solving from as young as age four. Her most-cited paper, "Educational Robotics and Tangible Devices for Promoting Computational Thinking" (2021, 19 citations), reviews how TPL can make programming accessible to young children. She also spearheaded the AZORESminiBOT robotics festival (2023, 8 citations), creating hands-on learning experiences that promote coding and teamwork. Additionally, her 2022 paper (3 citations) details a simple interactive robot developed for the PeCOT project, designed for classroom use to teach computational thinking through tangible objects. With a growing citation impact, Santos is recognized for bridging theory and practice, making complex concepts tangible for young learners. Her contributions are pivotal in shaping early STEM education, emphasizing playful, cooperative approaches to technology.