Algorithmic literacy: a bibliographic review and debate on education

Abstract

This study aimed to map the field of research on algorithmic literacy in Portuguese, Spanish, and English. The growing importance and presence of algorithms in various facets of social life motivated this research. To achieve this, four axes of investigation were utilized: 1) definition of conceptual proposals;, 2) identification of emerging pedagogical techniques and strategies in these debates; 3) description of the functions and domains of these different forms of knowledge, and 4) reflection on the challenges and difficulties revealed in the relevant literature. The methodology used was a systematic literature review in the Scopus and Web of Science databases, using the descriptors Literacy AND Algorithmic, algorithmic OR algorithm AND literacy OR literacies. Subsequently, 21 publications were analyzed following a systematic selection process. Initially, the analysis indicates a significant increase in work in recent years (2021 and 2022), the diversity of areas, and the predominance of publications in English. Critical empowerment, awareness, and understanding of algorithms emerge as key themes in the debate, but there is considerable variation in the pedagogical approaches adopted to encourage critical engagement with algorithmic systems.

Keywords:
Datafication; Platformization; Algorithmic systems; Education