Informatics in Education

The contents taught in the programming subjects have a great relevance in the formation of computing students. However, these subjects are characterized by high failure rates, as they require logical reasoning and mathematical knowledge. Thus, establishing knowledge through the subject of algorithms can help students to overcome these difficulties and absorb the contents and skills required. Thus, this work aims to present and discuss the results of a second experiment on the application of a teaching plan composed of several active methodologies (Virtual Learning Environments, Coding Dojo, Gamification, Problem-Based Learning, Flipped Classroom and Serious Games) in an algorithms subject. Based on this experiment, it was evaluated whether there were learning gains compared to the learning acquired with the traditional method. Finally, an analysis was performed using the two-tailed Student-t approach, used for independent samples, which presented statistically significant results.

There has been an active movement towards fun learning, using games in education. This article introduces the text-based serious game “Rise of the Java Emperor” that aims to support students in learning basic object-oriented programming concepts using Java. Information concerning the analysis, the design and the pilot evaluation of the game is presented. Thirty-three undergraduate and postgraduate students of an Applied Informatics Department voluntarily played and answered a questionnaire based on the MEEGA+ model, in order to investigate the perceived player experience and short-term learning as well as the acceptance of a text-based programming game by students. The results of the evaluation show that text based games can be both fun and instructional for the field of computer programming. An important issue that requires further research is how this or other programming games can be successfully combined with traditional teaching methods for enhancing the learning of programming.

The purpose of this systematic literature review is to explore the area of digital Game-Based Learning (GBL) for students with intellectual disabilities as a tool that enables positive impact on learning and mastering specific skills in order to make recommendations for future research. Twenty-one studies were selected from different databases. The results showed that the most common type of game was serious game, and the most common used technology was PC with additional equipment, but tablets were also often used. In addition, the studies were more focused on the development of cognitive abilities rather than of adaptive skills.

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.