Computer Games Created by Middle School Girls: Can They Be Used to Measure Understanding of Computer Science Concepts?

Autor/inn/en	Denner, Jill; Werner, Linda; Ortiz, Eloy
Titel	Computer Games Created by Middle School Girls: Can They Be Used to Measure Understanding of Computer Science Concepts?
Quelle	In: Computers & Education, 58 (2012) 1, S.240-249 (10 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0360-1315
DOI	10.1016/j.compedu.2011.08.006
Schlagwörter	Females; Computer Uses in Education; Computers; Programming; Coding; Games; Middle School Students; Computer Science; After School Programs; Usability; Technology Uses in Education; Computer Software; Documentation; Educational Technology; Information Technology + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Weibliches Geschlecht; Computernutzung; Digitalrechner; Programmierung; Codierung; Game; Spiel; Spiele; Middle school; Middle schools; Student; Students; Mittelschule; Mittelstufenschule; Schüler; Schülerin; Informatik; After school education; After-school programs; Program; Programs; Programme; Außerschulische Jugendbildung; Programm; Technology enhanced learning; Technology aided learning; Technologieunterstütztes Lernen; Dokumentation; Unterrichtsmedien; Informationstechnologie
Abstract	Computer game programming has been touted as a promising strategy for engaging children in the kinds of thinking that will prepare them to be producers, not just users of technology. But little is known about what they learn when programming a game. In this article, we present a strategy for coding student games, and summarize the results of an analysis of 108 games created by middle school girls using Stagecast Creator in an after school class. The findings show that students engaged in moderate levels of complex programming activity, created games with moderate levels of usability, and that the games were characterized by low levels of code organization and documentation. These results provide evidence that game construction involving both design and programming activities can support the learning of computer science concepts. (Contains 4 figures and 4 tables.) (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10