Exploring Computational Thinking in Geometric Proof Construction Across Gender Groups

Mathematical proof requires students to coordinate concepts, procedures, reasoning, and justification, while computational thinking (CT) provides a lens for organizing such processes. How CT processes are manifested during geometric transformation proof construction, particularly in relation to variation in proof representation, remains insufficiently explored. This study examined CT processes in students’ mathematical proof construction and described gender-related variation without assuming differences in mathematical ability. A qualitative descriptive design was conducted with 20 Grade XI students (10 male, 10 female) at a single senior high school. Data were collected through four open-ended geometric transformation tasks, reflection sheets, semi-structured interviews with six selected cases, and documentation. Data were analyzed through framework-based coding of decomposition, pattern recognition, algorithmic thinking, evaluation, and abstraction and generalization, alongside levels of proof construction. CT processes appeared unevenly across students. Evaluation and abstraction and generalization were the most challenging processes. Only 4 of 20 students reached the holistic-structural proof level. In the analyzed cases, some male cases showed more algebraic-structural representations, whereas some female cases showed more deductive-narrative representations. Conclusion: Procedural accuracy alone was insufficient for complete proof construction. The study contributes an analytical perspective linking CT processes with proof construction and highlights pedagogical attention to evaluation and generalization.