LCoin: modelagem de um sistema descentralizado para reconhecimento de ações pró-sociais informais entre discentes de Licenciatura em Computação do Campus Santo Amaro.

Abstract

The contemporary context has driven various transformations in higher education, intensifying the search for strategies that promote student engagement and value socio-emotional skills. In this scenario, the pro-social act—understood as a voluntary action aimed at benefiting others and, ultimately, oneself—emerges as significant for the training of pre-service teachers in the Computing Licentiate program. However, when such actions occur in informal settings, their visibility and recognition are hindered, particularly due to the absence of institutional gamified mechanisms that encourage them in a decentralized manner—that is, without direct oversight by the instructor. Thus, the following question was raised: How can a decentralized system based on virtual currencies be modeled to enable the recognition of informal pro-social actions among students in the Computing Licentiate program at the Santo Amaro campus? To address this problem and achieve the general objective, the following specific objectives were outlined: to discuss key theoretical concepts regarding pro-social behavior; to trace the history of student engagement in higher education; to analyze gamified practices in higher education; to review similar studies to inform system requirements; and to propose a system model. Accordingly, an exploratory study was structured to gain familiarity with the problem and design a solution. Based on this, a conceptual system model was developed to reflect the value placed on pro-social acts among students, providing a starting point for the development of a tool that integrates pro-social behavior, engagement, and gamification.