Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 6, 2025
08:35
Interactive and Visualized Online Experimentation System for Engineering Education and Research
Published on: November 24, 2021
2.7K
Co-design of mini games for learning computational thinking in an online environment
Friday Joseph Agbo1, Solomon Sunday Oyelere2, Jarkko Suhonen1
1School of Computing, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 111, FIN-80101 Joensuu, Finland.
Education and Information Technologies
|May 10, 2021
Summary
Online co-design (OCD) of mini games helps computer science (CS) students learn computational thinking (CT) principles. Students gained knowledge in creating CT-based games, enhancing problem-solving skills through collaborative design in an online setting.
Area of Science:
- Computer Science Education
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Educational Game Design
Background:
- Computational thinking (CT) principles like abstraction and decomposition are crucial for computer science (CS) students but often difficult to grasp.
- Developing CT skills can be facilitated by engaging students in the design of educational applications.
- The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated alternative approaches to collaborative research and development, such as online co-design.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effectiveness of online co-design (OCD) in developing CT skills among CS students.
- To explore the co-design of mini games as a method for teaching and learning CT principles in an online environment.
- To understand how OCD can enhance students' problem-solving abilities through the design of contextual educational games.
Main Methods:
- Recruited CS students from a Nigerian higher education institution for an online co-design study.
- Employed mixed research methods, integrating qualitative and quantitative strategies.
- Facilitated the co-design of low-fidelity mini game prototypes focused on CT concepts.
Main Results:
- Participants acquired knowledge in creating game scenarios, elements, and storylines related to CT.
- Students demonstrated improved collaboration skills in group-based mini game concept development.
- Peer review of mini game concepts fostered deeper understanding and motivation towards educational game design.
Conclusions:
- Online co-design is a viable and effective method for teaching CT principles to CS students, especially in remote settings.
- The study provides practical insights and recommendations for conducting OCD with students in educational contexts.
- Co-designing educational games motivated students and enhanced their understanding of CT and game development principles.
Keywords:
Computational thinkingGame-based learningMini gamesNigeriaOnline co-designSmart learning environmentsVirtual realityMore Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:24Social Foundations of Self I: Play and Game
58
The development of self in children is deeply rooted in social interactions, mainly through stages of play and structured games. These stages, outlined by sociologist George Herbert Mead, illustrate how children progressively learn to understand and adopt social roles, forming a cohesive sense of self.The Play Stage: Imitation and Simple Role-TakingIn the early years of childhood, the play stage is characterized by imitative behavior, where children engage in role-playing based on familiar...
58
01:13Principle of Virtual Work: Problem Solving
1.4K
The principle of virtual work is an essential concept in the field of mechanics and engineering. This is used to solve problems related to the equilibrium of a structure or system. It is based on the assumption that if a system is in equilibrium, the work done by all the forces during a virtual displacement is zero. This principle is applied by considering virtual displacements of the system and the corresponding work done by internal and external forces.
To apply the principle of virtual work,...
To apply the principle of virtual work,...
1.4K
01:29Problem-Solving
322
Effective problem-solving consists of two steps: 1. identifying the problem and 2. selecting the appropriate problem-solving strategy (i.e., a plan of action used to find a solution). Humans use four problem-solving strategies:
322
01:21Cognitive Learning
790
Cognitive learning is based on purposive behavior, incidental learning, and insight learning.
E. C. Tolman's theory of purposive behavior emphasizes that much behavior is goal-directed. He argued that to understand behavior, we must look at the entire sequence of actions leading to a goal. For instance, high school students study hard, not just due to past reinforcement but also to achieve the goal of getting into a good college.
Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...
E. C. Tolman's theory of purposive behavior emphasizes that much behavior is goal-directed. He argued that to understand behavior, we must look at the entire sequence of actions leading to a goal. For instance, high school students study hard, not just due to past reinforcement but also to achieve the goal of getting into a good college.
Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...
790
01:30Machines: Problem Solving II
482
Machines are complex structures consisting of movable, pin-connected multi-force members that work together to transmit forces. Consider a lifting tong carrying a 100 kg load. It comprises movable sections DAF and CBG linked together with member AB.
482
01:25Creative Thinking
1.1K
Creative thinking encompasses innovative and unconventional methods for addressing challenges, often leading to groundbreaking solutions. Instead of focusing solely on enhancing existing systems, such as increasing smartphone battery capacity, creative thinking might inspire advancements like energy-efficient batteries or processors that minimize power consumption. This multidimensional approach underscores the importance of exploring novel pathways to innovation.
Divergent thinking is the...
Divergent thinking is the...
1.1K