Linguistic planning and cultural deficiencies in problem solving with the computer

In this paper we illustrate some typical deficiencies emerging from the analysis of the difficul¬ties that 11-14 aged pupils meet when solving problems in different computer environments. The deficiencies we deal with are essentially of linguistic, planning, cultural kind. We refer in particular to computer environments involving calculators, programming languages, commercial spreadsheets and to an educational microworld for developing specific geometric tridimensional skills. Moreover, we argue that, without an adequate intervention of the teacher, the above mentioned deficiencies may generate pupils' blocks in the problem resolution process and risk to remain hidden or to be amplified.