Game-based learning and game construction as an e-learning strategy in programming education

• Marie Olsson ^[1] ; P. Mozelius
  1. [1] Mid Sweden University

     Mid Sweden University

     Suecia

     
• Localización: Proceedings of Ikasnabar-Guide 2016 International Conference / Gorka J. Palacio Arko (ed. lit.), 2016, ISBN 978-84-9082-489-4, págs. 146-164
• Idioma: inglés
• Enlaces
  • Texto Completo Libro
• Resumen

  • A strong trend in the 21st century has been the transformation of traditional face-to-face rostrum teaching to blended learning in online learning environments. There are several research studies describing that these new virtual learning environments can leave learners in a state of loneliness and boredom resulting in low motivation and high drop-out rates. In studies of programming education there have been frequent reports about high drop-out rates and poor outcomes.

    This study analyses and discusses a distance course on multimedia programming where the authors have been subject matter experts and content developers as well as teachers and facilitators. Practically everything in the course activities is built around game analysis and game construction including a final project where students design and implement their own educational games. Main didactic approaches in the course are constructionism, game-based learning and multimodality. With a case study approach data was collected from course documents, evaluation questionnaires, students' games and online discussion fora.

    Findings indicate that game-based learning (GBL) can be a catalyst creating energy and motivation especially for students in the digital natives generation. The idea of game construction with multimedia in open assignments might also be a way to increase pass rates in programming courses at university level. Furthermore, multimodality in course content and course activities seems to be a promising concept and not only for programming courses.

    However, the described combination of GBL and multimodality is no silver bullet, and rather just one e-learning strategy worth combining with others.