USING SCOTTIE GO! AS GAME BASED LEARNING TOOL FOR COMPUTATIONAL THINKING COURSE
Date Issued
2018
Author(s)
Videnovik, Maja
Trajkovik, Vladimir
Abstract
The pervasiveness of information and communication technologies in everyday life imposes the need
to be digitally proficient. Computational thinking and learning to code are necessary 21st century skills
for students. Those skills can drastically influence future labor market. Carefully planned educational
approaches must be used in order to develop computational thinking skills at primary school level. We
propose to use game based learning combined with flipped classroom and collaborative team work.
This can utilize students’ energy and enthusiasm they have when playing games, in achieving
educational goals. This methodological approach is also very useful to develop different level of digital
competences focusing on a technology as a tool for achieving certain goal.
Scottie Go! is an interactive puzzle-based mobile game which aims to involve primary school children
in coding using approach similar to popular block based coding approaches such as Scratch coding
environment. The coding is very similar to making the ordinary paper puzzle, where each part of the
puzzle is one coding instruction. The “compiling” of code is done using mobile app camera-based
interface that is very popular among students. This simple and tactile approach makes easier for
young learners to deal with abstract coding concepts without depending on technology at one side,
and developing sophisticated digital competences (simplified augmented reality) at other side. The
collaborative game approach is used in order to integrate less interested or talented students in
achieving learning outcomes in a very natural way. By playing the game students have both fun and
possibility to learn from the other in the flipped classroom manner.
The proposed approach was used with 120 students from six different primary schools over a period
of two months. The students than took part in the survey concerning their overall experience in using
the game for development of computational skills. Information concerning students’ interest in the
game, ease of use, students' quality of experience and correspondence to educational goals were
obtained using the survey. In addition, An exam has been carried out to evaluate students’ learning
achievements and long term knowledge. Survey results together with exams’ results indicate that the
proposed approach has created collaborative, stimulating and motivational learning environments
which lead to successful achieving of learning outcomes. Proposed teaching methodology and results
of the survey are presented in the paper.
to be digitally proficient. Computational thinking and learning to code are necessary 21st century skills
for students. Those skills can drastically influence future labor market. Carefully planned educational
approaches must be used in order to develop computational thinking skills at primary school level. We
propose to use game based learning combined with flipped classroom and collaborative team work.
This can utilize students’ energy and enthusiasm they have when playing games, in achieving
educational goals. This methodological approach is also very useful to develop different level of digital
competences focusing on a technology as a tool for achieving certain goal.
Scottie Go! is an interactive puzzle-based mobile game which aims to involve primary school children
in coding using approach similar to popular block based coding approaches such as Scratch coding
environment. The coding is very similar to making the ordinary paper puzzle, where each part of the
puzzle is one coding instruction. The “compiling” of code is done using mobile app camera-based
interface that is very popular among students. This simple and tactile approach makes easier for
young learners to deal with abstract coding concepts without depending on technology at one side,
and developing sophisticated digital competences (simplified augmented reality) at other side. The
collaborative game approach is used in order to integrate less interested or talented students in
achieving learning outcomes in a very natural way. By playing the game students have both fun and
possibility to learn from the other in the flipped classroom manner.
The proposed approach was used with 120 students from six different primary schools over a period
of two months. The students than took part in the survey concerning their overall experience in using
the game for development of computational skills. Information concerning students’ interest in the
game, ease of use, students' quality of experience and correspondence to educational goals were
obtained using the survey. In addition, An exam has been carried out to evaluate students’ learning
achievements and long term knowledge. Survey results together with exams’ results indicate that the
proposed approach has created collaborative, stimulating and motivational learning environments
which lead to successful achieving of learning outcomes. Proposed teaching methodology and results
of the survey are presented in the paper.
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