Towards a Web Generator of Programming Games for Primary School Children

Abstract

This paper presents a web system to generate programming games for primary school children, with the objective to teach basic programming concepts. It also reviews five existing games with the same purpose, which use either block-based or text-based programming languages. A comparative analysis of the games is provided, based on some important features, such as the presence of a levels map, the use of a block or text language, the presence of a result screen, the presentation of the shortest and previous solutions, among others. The web system is divided into two main parts: the game generator that is used by teachers to create new programming games, and the programming games themselves that are played by students.

Assessment of Digital Games in Technology Education

“…These skills are divided into three main areas [33] Gamification is an innovative technology that is considered a leading trend in education, as it has significant potential in developing some of the above-mentioned skills. Several studies confirm this positive impact on improving task motivation [34], [35] and student behaviour [36], [37] in various topography areas and demographics. Lamrani et al [38] and Záhorec et al [39] also confirm this positive impact.…”

The Effect of Virtual Reality Technology in Teaching Mathematics on Students’ Ability to Process Data and Graphic Representation

“…The student can represent the integers (positive and negative) encountered in problems using the slide tool provided. In Oryx Education, students can represent positive numbers with one color and negative numbers with a different color to gather information and conduct experiments [23].…”

“…The ORYX interactive learning platform provides guided exploration opportunities for students, helps them develop an understanding of mathematical concepts, demonstrate their cognitive abilities, and share their achievements with family and school. Utilizing ORYX educational methods and tools can help explain and clarify misconceptions, as well as strengthen the relationship between concepts and their practical application on the ground [22][23][24][25].…”

BlockCode: A Web Application to Create Games that Support the Learning of Computer Programming Logic

“…A comparative analysis of the tools examined in this section is carried out in [26]. Additionally, there is a broader examination and comparison of educational games intended for teaching computer programming and computational logic in [27].…”