Passion for programming: to the determination of the status and content of the concept

Abstract

   Introduction. Programming is very attractive for today's youth in terms of future professional activities. The professional choice of a significant number of high school students is associated with admission to IT specialties in the country's leading universities; professional dreams and plans of many young people are related to competitive training and work in an IT company. The increased interest of young people in this specialty and the demand for highly qualified specialists in this field from the state actualizes the need to study the psychological characteristics of the development of children, adolescents and young people who are passionate about programming. The theoretical significance is the definition of the ontological status and content of the concept of passion for programming. Is the passion for programming a socially and historically conditioned characteristic of personality development, or should this concept be considered as a kind of giftedness?   Materials and Methods. The article presents the results of a review of theoretical approaches to defining the essence of the concept of "enthusiasm for activity" and considers the possibility of its application in relation to programming in the context of the general theory of youth giftedness. During the review, such methods of theoretical research as comparative analysis, generalization, interpretation were used.   Results. Passion for programming can be defined as a state of energy, devotion and absorption in this activity, requiring physical, cognitively active and emotional involvement in the process. Passion for programming must be considered in the context of the general theory of giftedness. In relation to the studied target group, it seems appropriate to use the term "computer talent". Computer talent includes a high level of development of computer thinking as an analogue of the development of intellectual abilities and creativity of the classical model. Enthusiasm for programming as an activity and in solving a specific problem is a personal component of computer talent.   Discussion and Conclusions. Passion for programming as a special state of the individual when certain conditions are created, including those that support and enhance motivation and form and develop computer thinking, can develop into a property as a special ability for programming. And a high level of development of this ability, together with a high level of development of computer thinking, will represent a special kind of giftedness – giftedness in the field of programming. Thus, enthusiasm for programming can be considered as a personal prerequisite for the development of giftedness in the field of programming. Identification and development of computer talent is a special pedagogical task.