A model for instructional software programming concepts
John William Mcdaniel · 1985
A methodology for conveying Computer Science concepts via game-playing to non-computer science majors using reductionistic teaching techniques was developed. Three different games were developed following the guidelines of the model. The model is divided into several phases. In the early phases, the user is given a problem to be solved using only a mouse (or, alternately, a selection of Function Keys) and successful completion of the problem results in one advancing to the next phase. The advanced phases generate code in a Pascal-like language to be replicated by the student. Two of the games were implemented (one in Basic, one in Pascal) on micro-computers and the graphic capabilities of the hardware were utilized whenever possible. One of the games was used as the first homework assignment in two CS-200 (Introduction to Computer Science) classes the Summer of 1984. The students in the two classes (one experimental group, one control group) were given questionnaires that were used to determine their attitude towards (and, hence, effectiveness of) the software package. The results from a statistical analysis of the responses were positive.