Enhancing Student Learning of Programming via Gaming Technology
Ari Butowsky, Mary Courtney · 2015
Computer programming is currently seen by many as a tedious and boring subject. Beginning students become frustrated with their assigned tasks and pursue other academic interests. The history of structured programming and object-oriented programming involves the development of programming languages, but learning them is another matter. Universities are trying to motivate students to take programming classes by using gaming technology. Software being explored to this end are MIT Scratch, AgentSheets, Alice, Greenfoot, and Objectdraw. A game using some aspects of today’s programming techniques is Frogger as exemplified by its source code. An ideal module would include a curriculum that uses Alice/MIT Scratch/AgentSheets first, followed by Greenfoot and Objectdraw. That way, students become engaged in programming before learning about source code. Hopefully, the knowledge gained throughout the years regarding computer programming will allow educators to use this kind of module to incentivize kids to learn computer programming again.