Abstract:
Contributions: This article presents a large-scale study which investigates students’ reaction to game-based learning as part of programming courses. The study focuses on...Show MoreMetadata
Abstract:
Contributions: This article presents a large-scale study which investigates students’ reaction to game-based learning as part of programming courses. The study focuses on knowledge acquisition, learner experience, and game usability. Background: Despite the rapid growth of the information and communication technologies (ICTs) sector, the lack of engagement with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects and high dropout rates in computer science and engineering majors is linked directly to the large number of unfilled vacancies in the ICT employment market. To tackle one of the underlying causes for this crisis, (i.e., traditional teaching paradigms struggle to attract students to rather abstract and difficult STEM subjects such as programming), innovative technology-enhanced learning solutions are sought. Intended Outcomes: A set of serious games were proposed and designed to promote students’ understanding of programming concepts, improve their confidence, stimulate their interest in STEM and increase engagement with the courses through vivid and appealing scenarios. Application Design: Targeting undergraduate and postgraduate students, the games focused on several key programming topics. They were designed to visualize the programming concepts in illustrative and entertaining scenarios. A comprehensive assessment methodology which includes surveys, observations, and interviews was employed to investigate the impact of the games. Findings: The results show that by using the games in the teaching and learning process all the students have benefited, although differently based on their location, educational backgrounds, and game played. The impact of detailed demographic aspects, such as participants’ use of technology, their initial attitude toward school, and learning STEM on the results needs further study.
Published in: IEEE Transactions on Education ( Volume: 65, Issue: 4, November 2022)
Funding Agency:
Department of Mathematics and Theory, Peng Cheng Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
Dan Zhao received the bachelor’s degree in telecommunications from the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing, China, in 2011, and the Ph.D. degree from the Queen Mary University of London, London, U.K., in 2015.
He is currently an Assistant Researcher with Peng Cheng Laboratory, Shenzhen, China. She joined the NEWTON Project in 2016. She was a Postdoctoral Researcher with the School of Electronic Engi...Show More
Dan Zhao received the bachelor’s degree in telecommunications from the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing, China, in 2011, and the Ph.D. degree from the Queen Mary University of London, London, U.K., in 2015.
He is currently an Assistant Researcher with Peng Cheng Laboratory, Shenzhen, China. She joined the NEWTON Project in 2016. She was a Postdoctoral Researcher with the School of Electronic Engi...View more
School of Computing, National College of Ireland, Dublin 1, Ireland
Cristina Hava Muntean received the B.Eng. degree in computer science from the Politehnica University of Timisoara, Timişoara, Romania, in 2000, and the Ph.D. degree from Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland, in 2005.
She is a Senior Lecturer with the School of Computing, National College of Ireland, Dublin. She was the NCI Coordinator of the EU Horizon 2020 Project NEWTON. She has been constantly involved in various res...Show More
Cristina Hava Muntean received the B.Eng. degree in computer science from the Politehnica University of Timisoara, Timişoara, Romania, in 2000, and the Ph.D. degree from Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland, in 2005.
She is a Senior Lecturer with the School of Computing, National College of Ireland, Dublin. She was the NCI Coordinator of the EU Horizon 2020 Project NEWTON. She has been constantly involved in various res...View more
School of Computing, National College of Ireland, Dublin 1, Ireland
Adriana E. Chis received the Diploma-Engineer degree (Hons.) in computer science and engineering from the Faculty of Automation and Computers, “Politehnica” University of Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania, in 2007, and the Ph.D. degree in computer science from the University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland, in 2013.
She is a Lecturer with the School of Computing, National College of Ireland, Dublin. Her research interests incl...Show More
Adriana E. Chis received the Diploma-Engineer degree (Hons.) in computer science and engineering from the Faculty of Automation and Computers, “Politehnica” University of Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania, in 2007, and the Ph.D. degree in computer science from the University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland, in 2013.
She is a Lecturer with the School of Computing, National College of Ireland, Dublin. Her research interests incl...View more
Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Slovak Technical University of Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
Gregor Rozinaj graduated from Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (STU), Bratislava, Slovakia, in 1981. He received the Ph.D. degree from STU in 1990.
In 1981, he started his work as an Assistant Professor where he become an Associate Professor in 1998, has been a Full Professor since 2014, and has been the Director of the Institute for Multimedia ICT, Institute FEI, since 2015. He has spent two years in the Rese...Show More
Gregor Rozinaj graduated from Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (STU), Bratislava, Slovakia, in 1981. He received the Ph.D. degree from STU in 1990.
In 1981, he started his work as an Assistant Professor where he become an Associate Professor in 1998, has been a Full Professor since 2014, and has been the Director of the Institute for Multimedia ICT, Institute FEI, since 2015. He has spent two years in the Rese...View more
Performance Engineering Laboratory, School of Electronic Engineering, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland
Gabriel-Miro Muntean (Senior Member, IEEE) received the Ph.D. degree from Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland, for research in quality-oriented adaptive multimedia streaming in 2004.
He is a Professor with the School of Electronic Engineering and the Co-Director of the Performance Engineering Laboratory, Dublin City University. He was the Project Coordinator of the EU Horizon 2020 Project NEWTON and is a DCU Principal ...Show More
Gabriel-Miro Muntean (Senior Member, IEEE) received the Ph.D. degree from Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland, for research in quality-oriented adaptive multimedia streaming in 2004.
He is a Professor with the School of Electronic Engineering and the Co-Director of the Performance Engineering Laboratory, Dublin City University. He was the Project Coordinator of the EU Horizon 2020 Project NEWTON and is a DCU Principal ...View more
Contents Department of Mathematics and Theory, Peng Cheng Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
Dan Zhao received the bachelor’s degree in telecommunications from the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing, China, in 2011, and the Ph.D. degree from the Queen Mary University of London, London, U.K., in 2015.
He is currently an Assistant Researcher with Peng Cheng Laboratory, Shenzhen, China. She joined the NEWTON Project in 2016. She was a Postdoctoral Researcher with the School of Electronic Engineering, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland, and with the School of Computing, National College of Ireland, Dublin, when she worked on the EU Horizon 2020 NEWTON Project. Her current research interests include the impact and benefit of TEL on students’ learning outcome and experience.
Dan Zhao received the bachelor’s degree in telecommunications from the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing, China, in 2011, and the Ph.D. degree from the Queen Mary University of London, London, U.K., in 2015.
He is currently an Assistant Researcher with Peng Cheng Laboratory, Shenzhen, China. She joined the NEWTON Project in 2016. She was a Postdoctoral Researcher with the School of Electronic Engineering, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland, and with the School of Computing, National College of Ireland, Dublin, when she worked on the EU Horizon 2020 NEWTON Project. Her current research interests include the impact and benefit of TEL on students’ learning outcome and experience.View more
School of Computing, National College of Ireland, Dublin 1, Ireland
Cristina Hava Muntean received the B.Eng. degree in computer science from the Politehnica University of Timisoara, Timişoara, Romania, in 2000, and the Ph.D. degree from Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland, in 2005.
She is a Senior Lecturer with the School of Computing, National College of Ireland, Dublin. She was the NCI Coordinator of the EU Horizon 2020 Project NEWTON. She has been constantly involved in various research-related activities over the past 16 years fostering and promoting research, leading research projects, supervising Ph.D. and M.Sc. students, and publishing over 100 publications in international peer-reviewed books, journals, and conferences. Adaptive and personalized e/m- learning, user modeling, technology enhanced learning, game-based learning, self-directed learning, consumer behavior, end-user quality of experience, adaptive multimedia, and energy saving solutions are the main research areas she is involved in.
Dr. Muntean chaired or served as a technical program committee member for top international conferences and acted as a reviewer for several journals.
Cristina Hava Muntean received the B.Eng. degree in computer science from the Politehnica University of Timisoara, Timişoara, Romania, in 2000, and the Ph.D. degree from Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland, in 2005.
She is a Senior Lecturer with the School of Computing, National College of Ireland, Dublin. She was the NCI Coordinator of the EU Horizon 2020 Project NEWTON. She has been constantly involved in various research-related activities over the past 16 years fostering and promoting research, leading research projects, supervising Ph.D. and M.Sc. students, and publishing over 100 publications in international peer-reviewed books, journals, and conferences. Adaptive and personalized e/m- learning, user modeling, technology enhanced learning, game-based learning, self-directed learning, consumer behavior, end-user quality of experience, adaptive multimedia, and energy saving solutions are the main research areas she is involved in.
Dr. Muntean chaired or served as a technical program committee member for top international conferences and acted as a reviewer for several journals.View more
School of Computing, National College of Ireland, Dublin 1, Ireland
Adriana E. Chis received the Diploma-Engineer degree (Hons.) in computer science and engineering from the Faculty of Automation and Computers, “Politehnica” University of Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania, in 2007, and the Ph.D. degree in computer science from the University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland, in 2013.
She is a Lecturer with the School of Computing, National College of Ireland, Dublin. Her research interests include program analysis, compilers, runtime systems, cloud computing, data-intensive systems, and computer science education.
Adriana E. Chis received the Diploma-Engineer degree (Hons.) in computer science and engineering from the Faculty of Automation and Computers, “Politehnica” University of Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania, in 2007, and the Ph.D. degree in computer science from the University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland, in 2013.
She is a Lecturer with the School of Computing, National College of Ireland, Dublin. Her research interests include program analysis, compilers, runtime systems, cloud computing, data-intensive systems, and computer science education.View more
Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Slovak Technical University of Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
Gregor Rozinaj graduated from Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (STU), Bratislava, Slovakia, in 1981. He received the Ph.D. degree from STU in 1990.
In 1981, he started his work as an Assistant Professor where he become an Associate Professor in 1998, has been a Full Professor since 2014, and has been the Director of the Institute for Multimedia ICT, Institute FEI, since 2015. He has spent two years in the Research Centre Alcatel in Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany, and two more years with the University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, working in the research area of speech and image processing. He was also a Vice-Dean of the international relations with FEI STUBA, Bratislava, Slovakia. He has participated in several educational projects under TEMPUS PHARE, LdV, ERASMUS+, and other EC programmes and as a trainer in several LLP EC and national projects. He is experienced as a coordinator and a manager of many national/international research development projects oriented to multimedia processing and multimedia services. He was a Technical Coordinator of FP7 Project HBB-NEXT. He was the local Coordinator of the EU Horizon 2020 Project NEWTON. He published more than 130 research articles (chapters in books, papers in journals, international conferences). He has authored four patents, three of them patented worldwide. His research interests include telereality, multimedia and speech processing, human–computer interaction based on multimodal interface.
Gregor Rozinaj graduated from Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (STU), Bratislava, Slovakia, in 1981. He received the Ph.D. degree from STU in 1990.
In 1981, he started his work as an Assistant Professor where he become an Associate Professor in 1998, has been a Full Professor since 2014, and has been the Director of the Institute for Multimedia ICT, Institute FEI, since 2015. He has spent two years in the Research Centre Alcatel in Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany, and two more years with the University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, working in the research area of speech and image processing. He was also a Vice-Dean of the international relations with FEI STUBA, Bratislava, Slovakia. He has participated in several educational projects under TEMPUS PHARE, LdV, ERASMUS+, and other EC programmes and as a trainer in several LLP EC and national projects. He is experienced as a coordinator and a manager of many national/international research development projects oriented to multimedia processing and multimedia services. He was a Technical Coordinator of FP7 Project HBB-NEXT. He was the local Coordinator of the EU Horizon 2020 Project NEWTON. He published more than 130 research articles (chapters in books, papers in journals, international conferences). He has authored four patents, three of them patented worldwide. His research interests include telereality, multimedia and speech processing, human–computer interaction based on multimodal interface.View more
Performance Engineering Laboratory, School of Electronic Engineering, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland
Gabriel-Miro Muntean (Senior Member, IEEE) received the Ph.D. degree from Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland, for research in quality-oriented adaptive multimedia streaming in 2004.
He is a Professor with the School of Electronic Engineering and the Co-Director of the Performance Engineering Laboratory, Dublin City University. He was the Project Coordinator of the EU Horizon 2020 Project NEWTON and is a DCU Principal Investigator of the EU Project TRACTION. He has authored four books, six edited books, and over 450 peer-reviewed international journal and conference papers. His research interests include quality and performance-related issues of adaptive multimedia streaming, performance of content delivery over wired and wireless networks and with various devices, and energy-aware networking.
Prof. Muntean is an Associate Editor of the IEEE Transactions on Broadcasting and the Multimedia Communications and an Area Editor for the IEEE Communications Surveys and Tutorials.
Gabriel-Miro Muntean (Senior Member, IEEE) received the Ph.D. degree from Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland, for research in quality-oriented adaptive multimedia streaming in 2004.
He is a Professor with the School of Electronic Engineering and the Co-Director of the Performance Engineering Laboratory, Dublin City University. He was the Project Coordinator of the EU Horizon 2020 Project NEWTON and is a DCU Principal Investigator of the EU Project TRACTION. He has authored four books, six edited books, and over 450 peer-reviewed international journal and conference papers. His research interests include quality and performance-related issues of adaptive multimedia streaming, performance of content delivery over wired and wireless networks and with various devices, and energy-aware networking.
Prof. Muntean is an Associate Editor of the IEEE Transactions on Broadcasting and the Multimedia Communications and an Area Editor for the IEEE Communications Surveys and Tutorials.View more