FGPE+: The Mobile FGPE Environment and the Pareto-Optimized Gamified Programming Exercise Selection Model—An Empirical Evaluation

Abstract

This paper is poised to inform educators, policy makers and software developers about the untapped potential of PWAs in creating engaging, effective, and personalized learning experiences in the field of programming education. We aim to address a significant gap in the current understanding of the potential advantages and underutilisation of Progressive Web Applications (PWAs) within the education sector, specifically for programming education. Despite the evident lack of recognition of PWAs in this arena, we present an innovative approach through the Framework for Gamification in Programming Education (FGPE). This framework takes advantage of the ubiquity and ease of use of PWAs, integrating it with a Pareto optimized gamified programming exercise selection model ensuring personalized adaptive learning experiences by dynamically adjusting the complexity, content, and feedback of gamified exercises in response to the learners’ ongoing progress and performance. This study examines the mobile user experience of the FGPE PLE in different countries, namely Poland and Lithuania, providing novel insights into its applicability and efficiency. Our results demonstrate that combining advanced adaptive algorithms with the convenience of mobile technology has the potential to revolutionize programming education. The FGPE+ course group outperformed the Moodle group in terms of the average perceived knowledge (M = 4.11, SD = 0.51).

In-Browser Implementation of a Gamification Rule Definition Language Interpreter

“…The rule execution times are at least 100 times smaller than those measured in the real-world for the current cloud-based FGPE gamification service installation (which are, as a matter of fact, burdened by the lag introduced by network transmission). This means that implementing the new client-side rule parser and processor in the FGPE platform should improve rather than degrade the user experience of the students who use it (which was already positive [43]), even when ignoring its most important advantage: the new functionality of interacting with the platform without a sustained Internet connection.…”

Challenges with Gamification in Higher Education: A Narrative Review with Implications for Educators and Policymakers

“…Gamification can be a powerful tool to increase motivation and engagement in education, but it can also be superficial if the game elements are not aligned with the learning objectives (Fuchs, 2022b). To avoid superficiality in gamification, educators must ensure that the game elements are meaningful and relevant to the learning experience (Maskeliūnas et al, 2023). By doing so, institutions and educators can create a more effective and engaging learning experience for students.…”