Share Paper: Examining Digital Game-based Learning through the Lens of 21st Century Gamers

  1. Kari Richards, Michigan State University, United States
  2. Wu Min, Michigan State University, Taiwan
  3. Alex Games, Michigan State University, United States
Friday, March 11 1:30 PM-2:00 PM Hermitage B

Abstract: This pilot study provides a glimpse into an after-school game design program, and the implications for the teaching of computational thinking. Through the evaluation of two game development and design programs, and their effects on a primary body of students, the researchers were able to identify the emergence of computational thinking skills in a group of middle school students over a twelve week period. The study found that following the 12 week program students were able to perform the fundamental tasks of Computational Thinking: decomposition, pattern recognition, pattern generalization to define abstractions or models, algorithm design, and data analysis and ...