{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,29]],"date-time":"2026-07-29T09:02:29Z","timestamp":1785315749869,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":55,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"8","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,27]],"date-time":"2026-07-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1785110400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Behav. Sci.","Behavioral Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Recent theoretical work has conceptualized computational thinking (CT) as a dynamic psychological construct that evolves in parallel with Computer Science (CS). From this perspective, a 3-stage CT framework has been proposed to reflect how the construct has evolved and is being expanded due to recent advancements in the CS field. More specifically, this extended framework comprises the following stages: \u2018rule-based\u2019 CT (1.0), linked to procedural programming and deterministic logic; \u2018data-driven\u2019 CT (2.0), influenced by advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) and incorporating inductive logic and probabilistic reasoning; and \u2018quantum\u2019 CT (3.0), the emerging stage, associated with quantum computing (QC) and embracing a holistic philosophical paradigm. Within this broader perspective, the related psychological construct, namely computational talent, has been initially defined as the ability to progress from \u2018visual block-based\u2019 procedural programming environments to \u2018text-based\u2019 ones. Building on this rationale, the present theoretical essay pursues two main objectives: (i) to delve deeper into the 3-stage CT framework, using a tripartite distinction between computational concepts, practices, and perspectives as its integrative analytical criterion; and (ii) to update the conception of computational talent by extending its definition from the \u2018rule-based\u2019 to the \u2018data-driven\u2019 and \u2018quantum\u2019 stages, distinguishing talent from mere proficiency at each stage through a triple criterion\u2014quantitative, qualitative, and social. As a conceptual contribution, this essay aims to provoke reflection and discussion within the field, leaving its empirical validation for future research.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/bs16081278","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,27]],"date-time":"2026-07-27T11:54:26Z","timestamp":1785153266000},"page":"1278","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Extending the Definition of Computational Talent"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8506-1715","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Marcos","family":"Rom\u00e1n-Gonz\u00e1lez","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Education, National University of Distance Education (UNED), 28040 Madrid, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ana","family":"Vidal-Fern\u00e1ndez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"International Doctoral School of the UNED (EIDUNED), National University of Distance Education (UNED), 28015 Madrid, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,27]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"55","DOI":"10.1140\/epjqt\/s40507-026-00502-1","article-title":"Towards metaphors for quantum computational thinking","volume":"13","author":"Beardow","year":"2026","journal-title":"EPJ Quantum Technology"},{"key":"ref_2","first-page":"012035","article-title":"QTris: A new game for teaching quantum physics","volume":"3203","author":"Bondani","year":"2026","journal-title":"Journal of Physics: Conference Series"},{"key":"ref_3","unstructured":"Brackmann, C. 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