In higher education, it is challenging to cultivate non-computer science majors' programming concepts. This study used the GAME model (gamification, assessment, modeling, and enquiry) in a programming education course to enhance undergraduates' self-efficacy and performance of basic programming concepts. There were 83 undergraduates taking part in…

This research aims to develop a combining game-based learning with design thinking using block-based programming to enhance computational thinking and creative games for primary students and will be referred to as game-based learning from now on. The purpose of this research is to 1) develop a model for game-based learning, 2) develop the system…

Middle school students often enter Computer Science (CS) classes without previous CS or Computational Thinking (CT) instruction. This study evaluated how Code.org's block-based programming curriculum affects middle school students' CT skills and attitudes toward CT and CS. Sixteen students participated in the study. This was a mixed methods action…

This study examines the effectiveness of a collaborative support method in enhancing programming learning outcomes in a serious game. The game Code Hasp was developed to facilitate the comparison between two support methods, worked examples and a collaborative peer support approach. A total of 111 elementary school students participated, divided…

This dissertation follows a manuscript-style format, beginning with an introduction and literature review, followed by three distinct studies and a concluding section. All three studies use "Lucky Codes," an educational board game designed to foster computational thinking skills in elementary students, as the intervention. The first…

This study describes an experiment in which engineering students create serious games (SG) that tackle problems relevant to their jobs. This experiment was conducted as part of the "Business Games" module we taught students enrolled in the Master's program "Innovation Management" at the National School of Engineers of Tunis. By…

This study explores the potential of the large language model GPT-4 as an automated tool for qualitative data analysis by educational researchers, exploring which techniques are most successful for different types of constructs. Specifically, we assess three different prompt engineering strategies -- Zero-shot, Few-shot, and Fewshot with…

This study critically reviews sixteen empirical studies that investigate the various difficulties that primary school students encounter while learning programming through educational games. Specifically, the challenges that students face in understanding basic programming concepts and the game elements that contribute to these difficulties, as…

The game-based learning approach to developing students' computational thinking (CT) current has received attention from researchers. However, the compatibility between games and instruction is often insufficient to accommodate the entertaining and educational nature of the curriculum entirely, and the benefits of game-based learning could be…

An intervention using the unplugged programming and storytelling (UPS) strategy was implemented in this study to cultivate students' programming learning motivation and concepts. The participants were 49 second graders at a primary school in southern Taiwan. The course was conducted for 12 lessons (40 min each lesson). A quasi-experimental design…

Even though working with data is as important as coding for understanding and dealing with complex problems across multiple fields, it has received very little attention in the context of Computational Thinking. This paper discusses an approach for bridging the gap between Computational Thinking with Data Science by employing and studying…

There is substantial evidence that incorporating interactive environments for game-based instruction has a significant potential to support the development of computational thinking and programming skills in primary education students. However, it is not clear whether a simulation game (SG) with different user interface elements, created via…

The purpose of this research is to evaluate the potential of use for computer science course designs (CSCD) created by game-based learning method. Qualitative case study was used as the research design. CSCDs created for Minecraft Education Edition (MinecraftEdu) were examined in the context of various criteria by document analysis method, and…

The importance of gameplay extends beyond mere entertainment, playing a crucial role in shaping behavioral intentions (BIs) in various contexts. This research aims to discover how digital gameplay influences students' BIs, mainly in the context of technology adoption in education. The main objective is to investigate the impact of digital gameplay…

Knowing the factors affecting students' learning achievement in digital learning is a crucial educational issue nowadays. However, recent research has paid less attention to how an individual's internal factors (prior knowledge) influence their learning achievement through cognitive engagement, and previous studies generally employed students'…