Utilizing a Serious Game via Open Sim Standalone Server and Scratch4OS for Introductory Programming Courses in Secondary Education: Their Effect on Student Engagement

Abstract

This study suggests a constructionist-learning framework to amplify students' engagement in introductory programming courses via a serious game that was held in Open Sim standalone server integrated with Scratch4OS. Fifty five (n=55) voluntary students from three different High schools have participated and experienced in Co.Co.I.A., a 3D mindtrap puzzle game. The empirical study findings indicated that behavioral engagement (attention, retention and energy expenditure for activity completion) does not only have a linear correlation with cognitive engagement (learning strategies for the construction of the knowledge domain), but it also has a positive nexus with emotional engagement (positive emotions and achievement orientation) in collaborative learning tasks, causing the reinforcement of the other two factors too.

Exploring the Integration of Virtual Laboratories in Science Education

“…For instance, comprehensive literature review, comprising 32 empirical studies from 16 countries, revealed notable improvements in students' academic performance. Among the reviewed studies are those conducted in Malaysia by Oloruntegbe and Alam (2010), in Slovenia by Herga et al (2014), in Italy by Pellas (2014), in the United States by Davenport et al (2018), and in Turkey by Kapici et al (2022). Similarly, research conducted in developing nations, such as Zimbabwe (Bhukuvhani et al, 2010), Lesotho (George & Kolobe, 2014), and Nigeria (Aliyu & Talib, 2019), has corroborated VLs' effectiveness in enhancing students' academic achievements.…”