Studying Students' Attitudes on Using Examples of Game Source Code for Learning Programming

Autor/inn/en	Theodoraki, Aristea; Xinogalos, Stelios
Titel	Studying Students' Attitudes on Using Examples of Game Source Code for Learning Programming
Quelle	In: Informatics in Education, 13 (2014) 2, S.265-277 (14 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1648-5831
Schlagwörter	Computer Science Education; Programming; Student Attitudes; Educational Games; Technology Uses in Education; Undergraduate Students; Student Motivation; Learner Engagement; Instructional Effectiveness; Questionnaires; Foreign Countries; Greece + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Computer science lessons; Informatikunterricht; Programmierung; Schülerverhalten; Educational game; Lernspiel; Technology enhanced learning; Technology aided learning; Technologieunterstütztes Lernen; Schulische Motivation; Unterrichtserfolg; Fragebogen; Ausland; Griechenland
Abstract	Games for learning are currently used in several disciplines for motivating students and enhancing their learning experience. This new approach of technology-enhanced learning has attracted researchers' and instructors' attention in the area of programming that is one of the most cognitively demanding fields in Computer Science. Several educational, or else serious, games for learning programming have been developed and the first results of their evaluation as a means of learning are quite positive. In this paper, we propose using arcade games as a means for learning programming. Based on this approach students first play a simple game, such as Snake or Tetris, study its code and then extend it. In a pilot study carried out in the context of an undergraduate programming course, students studied the source code of the well-known game Snake and extended it with new functionalities. The analysis of students' replies in a questionnaire showed that using arcade games as a means of learning programming concepts enhances students' motivation for learning programming, supports them in comprehending complex concepts and engages them in carrying out programming activities. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Vilnius University Institute of Mathematics and Informatics, Lithuanian Academy of Sciences. Akademjos str. 4, Vilnius LT 08663 Lithuania. Tel: +37-5-21-09300; Fax: +37-5-27-29209; e-mail: info@mii.vu.lt; Web site: http://www.mii.lt/informatics_in_education/
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01