Article

Game2Learn: building CS1 learning games for retention

Authors:

Alex GodwinAuthors Info & Claims

ITiCSE '07: Proceedings of the 12th annual SIGCSE conference on Innovation and technology in computer science education

Pages 121 - 125

https://doi.org/10.1145/1268784.1268821

Published: 25 June 2007 Publication History

Get Access

Abstract

This paper presents Game2Learn, an innovative project designed to leverage games in retaining students in computer science (CS). In our two-pronged approach, students in integrative final-year capstone courses and summer research experiences develop games to teach computer science, which, in turn, will be used to improve introductory computing courses. Our successful model for summer undergraduate research and capstone projects engages students in solving the computing retention problem, allows them to quickly create games, and instructs students in user- and learner-centered design and research methods. Results show that this method of building games to teach engages students at multiple levels, inspiring newer students that one day their homework may all be games, and encouraging advanced students to continue on into graduate studies in computing.

References

[1]

ACM/IEEE-CS Joint Curriculum Task Force. Computing Curricula 2001. Accessed Sep. 8, 2006. http://acm.org/education/curric_vols/cc2001.pdf

Google Scholar

[2]

Aspray, W., & Bernat, A. Recruitment and retention of underrepresented minority graduate students in computer science: Report of a workshop, March 4-5, 2000. Washington, DC: Computing Research Association.

Google Scholar

[3]

Barnes, T., H. Richter. Game2Learn: Improving the engagement and motivation of CS1 students. Submitted to ACM SIGRAPH Symposium on Video Games 2007.

Digital Library

Google Scholar

[4]

Bayliss, J. & S. Strout. Games as a "flavor" of CS1. In SIGCSE2006. ACM Press, New York, NY, 500--504.

Digital Library

Google Scholar

[5]

Beaubouef, T. & J. Mason. Why the high attrition rate for computer science students: some thoughts and observations. SIGCSE Bull. 37, 2 (Jun. 2005), 103--106.

Digital Library

Google Scholar

[6]

Case, S. Women in Gaming. Microsoft, Jan. 12, 2004. http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/games/learnmore/womeningames.mspx

Google Scholar

[7]

Clear, T., Goldweber, M., Young, F. H., Leidig, P. M., and Scott, K. 2001. Resources for instructors of capstone courses in computing. SIGCSE Bull. 33, 4 (Dec. 2001), 93--113.

Digital Library

Google Scholar

[8]

Clua, E., B. Feijó, J. Schwartz, M. Graças, K. Perlin, R. Tori, T. Barnes. Games and Interactivity in Computer Science Education. Panel at SIGGRAPH, Boston, MA, August 2006.

Digital Library

Google Scholar

[9]

Garris, Ahlers, & Driskell. Games, motivation, and learning: a research and practice model. Simulation & Gaming, Vol. 33, No. 4, 2002, 441--467.

Crossref

Google Scholar

[10]

Gee, J. P. What video games have to teach us about learning and literacy. Comput. Entertain. 1, 1 (Oct. 2003), 20.

Digital Library

Google Scholar

[11]

Parberry, I., Roden, T., & Kazemzadeh, M. Experience with an industry-driven capstone course on game programming: extended abstract. SIGCSE 2005: p 91--95.

Digital Library

Google Scholar

[12]

Polack-Wahl, J. & Anewalt, K. Undergraduate research: Learning strategies and undergraduate research. SIGCSE 2006: 209--213.

Digital Library

Google Scholar

[13]

Prensky, M. Digital Game-Based Learning, New York, McGraw-Hill, 2001.

Digital Library

Google Scholar

[14]

Zweben, S. Computing Research Association Taulbee Survey, May 2005.

Google Scholar

Cited By

View all

Surma DSurma Z(2024)Understanding the Effects of Adding a CS0 Course to a Computer Science Curriculum: A Long-Term StudyJournal of Computing Sciences in Colleges10.5555/3715638.371566440:4(108-117)Online publication date: 1-Sep-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.5555/3715638.3715664
Menon DRomero M(2022)Game Mechanics Supporting a Learning and Playful Experience in Educational Escape GamesResearch Anthology on Developments in Gamification and Game-Based Learning10.4018/978-1-6684-3710-0.ch040(884-902)Online publication date: 2022
https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-3710-0.ch040
Isvik ALytle NCatete VBarnes T(2022)Characterizing High School Participants’ Motivations and Outcomes in a Service-Oriented Summer InternshipProceedings of the 22nd Koli Calling International Conference on Computing Education Research10.1145/3564721.3564734(1-12)Online publication date: 17-Nov-2022
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3564721.3564734
Show More Cited By

Index Terms

Game2Learn: building CS1 learning games for retention
1. Social and professional topics
  1. Professional topics
    1. Computing education
      1. Computing education programs
        Computer science education

Recommendations

Game2Learn: building CS1 learning games for retention
Proceedings of the 12th annual SIGCSE conference on Innovation and technology in computer science education (ITiCSE'07)

This paper presents Game2Learn, an innovative project designed to leverage games in retaining students in computer science (CS). In our two-pronged approach, students in integrative final-year capstone courses and summer research experiences develop ...
Bringing Undergraduate Research Experience in Non-R1 Institutions
SIGCSE '17: Proceedings of the 2017 ACM SIGCSE Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education

In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in computer science undergraduate research activities at colleges and universities nationwide. Developing and maintaining undergraduate research benefits students, faculty mentors, and the institution. ...
Relevant real-world undergraduate research problems: lessons from the nsf-reu trenches
SIGCSE '10: Proceedings of the 41st ACM technical symposium on Computer science education

Projects funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program aim to (a) enhance participation of students who otherwise might not have research opportunities, and (b) increase the number of students ...

Comments

Please enable JavaScript to view thecomments powered by Disqus.

Information & Contributors

Information

Published In

ITiCSE '07: Proceedings of the 12th annual SIGCSE conference on Innovation and technology in computer science education

June 2007

386 pages

ISBN:9781595936103

DOI:10.1145/1268784

General Chair:
Janet Hughes
University of Dundee, UK
,
Program Chairs:
Ramanee Peiris
University of Dundee, UK
,
Paul Tymann
Rochester Institute of Technology

ACM SIGCSE Bulletin Volume 39, Issue 3
Proceedings of the 12th annual SIGCSE conference on Innovation and technology in computer science education (ITiCSE'07)
September 2007
366 pages
ISSN:0097-8418
DOI:10.1145/1269900
Issue’s Table of Contents

Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. Copyrights for components of this work owned by others than ACM must be honored. Abstracting with credit is permitted. To copy otherwise, or republish, to post on servers or to redistribute to lists, requires prior specific permission and/or a fee. Request permissions from [email protected]

Publisher

Association for Computing Machinery

New York, NY, United States

Publication History

Published: 25 June 2007

Permissions

Request permissions for this article.

Request Permissions

Check for updates

Author Tags

Qualifiers

Article

Conference

ITiCSE07

Sponsor:

ITiCSE07: 12th Annual Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education

June 25 - 27, 2007

Dundee, Scotland

Acceptance Rates

ITiCSE '07 Paper Acceptance Rate 62 of 210 submissions, 30%;

Overall Acceptance Rate 552 of 1,613 submissions, 34%

Upcoming Conference

ITiCSE '25

Sponsor:
sigcse

Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education

June 27 - July 2, 2025

Nijmegen , Netherlands

Contributors

Other Metrics

View Article Metrics

Bibliometrics & Citations

Bibliometrics

Article Metrics

76
Total Citations
View Citations
1,117
Total Downloads

Downloads (Last 12 months)24
Downloads (Last 6 weeks)2

Reflects downloads up to 18 Feb 2025

Other Metrics

View Author Metrics

Citations

Cited By

View all

Surma DSurma Z(2024)Understanding the Effects of Adding a CS0 Course to a Computer Science Curriculum: A Long-Term StudyJournal of Computing Sciences in Colleges10.5555/3715638.371566440:4(108-117)Online publication date: 1-Sep-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.5555/3715638.3715664
Menon DRomero M(2022)Game Mechanics Supporting a Learning and Playful Experience in Educational Escape GamesResearch Anthology on Developments in Gamification and Game-Based Learning10.4018/978-1-6684-3710-0.ch040(884-902)Online publication date: 2022
https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-3710-0.ch040
Isvik ALytle NCatete VBarnes T(2022)Characterizing High School Participants’ Motivations and Outcomes in a Service-Oriented Summer InternshipProceedings of the 22nd Koli Calling International Conference on Computing Education Research10.1145/3564721.3564734(1-12)Online publication date: 17-Nov-2022
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3564721.3564734
Druga SBall TKo A(2022)How families design and program games: a qualitative analysis of a 4-week online in-home studyProceedings of the 21st Annual ACM Interaction Design and Children Conference10.1145/3501712.3529724(237-252)Online publication date: 27-Jun-2022
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3501712.3529724
Anyango JSuleman H(2022)Designing Programming Games for Diversity in Teaching Introductory ProgrammingICT Education10.1007/978-3-030-92858-2_2(19-36)Online publication date: 1-Jan-2022
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-92858-2_2
Isvik ACatete VBell DGransbury IBarnes T(2021)Infusing Computing: Moving a Service Oriented Internship Program Online2021 Conference on Research in Equitable and Sustained Participation in Engineering, Computing, and Technology (RESPECT)10.1109/RESPECT51740.2021.9620644(1-5)Online publication date: 23-May-2021
https://doi.org/10.1109/RESPECT51740.2021.9620644
Menon DRomero M(2020)Game Mechanics Supporting a Learning and Playful Experience in Educational Escape GamesGlobal Perspectives on Gameful and Playful Teaching and Learning10.4018/978-1-7998-2015-4.ch007(143-162)Online publication date: 2020
https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-2015-4.ch007
Paiva JLeal JQueirós R(2020)Fostering Programming Practice through GamesInformation10.3390/info1111049811:11(498)Online publication date: 24-Oct-2020
https://doi.org/10.3390/info11110498
Cateté VIsvik ABarnes T(2020)Infusing Computing: A Scaffolding and Teacher Accessibility Analysis of Computing Lessons Designed by NovicesProceedings of the 20th Koli Calling International Conference on Computing Education Research10.1145/3428029.3428056(1-11)Online publication date: 19-Nov-2020
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3428029.3428056
Isvik ACatete VBarnes T(2020)FLAMES: A Socially Relevant Computing Summer Internship for High School Students2020 Research on Equity and Sustained Participation in Engineering, Computing, and Technology (RESPECT)10.1109/RESPECT49803.2020.9272515(1-4)Online publication date: 10-Mar-2020
https://doi.org/10.1109/RESPECT49803.2020.9272515
Show More Cited By

View Options

Login options

Check if you have access through your login credentials or your institution to get full access on this article.

Full Access

Get this Publication

View options

PDF

View or Download as a PDF file.

PDF

eReader

View online with eReader.

eReader

Abstract

References

Cited By

Index Terms

Recommendations