Design, Development, and Evaluation of a Virtual Reality Game-Based Application to Support Computational Thinking

Autor/inn/en	Agbo, Friday Joseph; Oyelere, Solomon Sunday; Suhonen, Jarkko; Tukiainen, Markku
Titel	Design, Development, and Evaluation of a Virtual Reality Game-Based Application to Support Computational Thinking
Quelle	In: Educational Technology Research and Development, 71 (2023) 2, S.505-537 (33 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Zusatzinformation	ORCID (Agbo, Friday Joseph) ORCID (Oyelere, Solomon Sunday) ORCID (Suhonen, Jarkko) ORCID (Tukiainen, Markku)
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1042-1629
DOI	10.1007/s11423-022-10161-5
Schlagwörter	Computer Simulation; Game Based Learning; Computation; Thinking Skills; Technology Uses in Education; Program Design; Program Implementation; Program Evaluation; College Students; Foreign Countries; Student Motivation; Nigeria + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Computergrafik; Computersimulation; Denkfähigkeit; Technology enhanced learning; Technology aided learning; Technologieunterstütztes Lernen; Programme design; Programmaufbau; Programmplanung; Programme evaluation; Programmevaluation; Collegestudent; Ausland; Schulische Motivation
Abstract	Computational thinking (CT) has become an essential skill nowadays. For young students, CT competency is required to prepare them for future jobs. This competency can facilitate students' understanding of programming knowledge which has been a challenge for many novices pursuing a computer science degree. This study focuses on designing and implementing a virtual reality (VR) game-based application (iThinkSmart) to support CT knowledge. The study followed the design science research methodology to design, implement, and evaluate the first prototype of the VR application. An initial evaluation of the prototype was conducted with 47 computer science students from a Nigerian university who voluntarily participated in an experimental process. To determine what works and what needs to be improved in the iThinkSmart VR game-based application, two groups were randomly formed, consisting of the experimental (n = 21) and the control (n = 26) groups respectively. Our findings suggest that VR increases motivation and therefore increase students' CT skills, which contribute to knowledge regarding the affordances of VR in education and particularly provide evidence on the use of visualization of CT concepts to facilitate programming education. Furthermore, the study revealed that immersion, interaction, and engagement in a VR educational application can promote students' CT competency in higher education institutions (HEI). In addition, it was shown that students who played the iThinkSmart VR game-based application gained higher cognitive benefits, increased interest and attitude to learning CT concepts. Although further investigation is required in order to gain more insights into students learning process, this study made significant contributions in positioning CT in the HEI context and provides empirical evidence regarding the use of educational VR mini games to support students learning achievements. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01