Gamifying Computer Science Education for Z Generation

Generation Z members use their smart devices as part of their everyday routine. Teaching methods may need to be updated to make learning materials more interesting for this generation. This paper suggests gamifying computer science subjects to enhance the learning experience for this generation. Add...

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Published inInformation (Basel) Vol. 12; no. 11; p. 453
Main Authors Jawad, Hadeel Mohammed, Tout, Samir
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Basel MDPI AG 01.11.2021
Subjects
Algorithms
Code Genie
College students
Colleges & universities
Computer programming
Computer science
computer science education
data structures
Education
Electronic devices
Games
Gamification
gamifying
gamifying cybersecurity education
Java
Learning
Science education
sorting algorithms
Students
Teaching
Teaching methods
Teams
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Abstract Generation Z members use their smart devices as part of their everyday routine. Teaching methods may need to be updated to make learning materials more interesting for this generation. This paper suggests gamifying computer science subjects to enhance the learning experience for this generation. Additionally, many students face difficulty in understanding computer science materials and algorithms. Gamifying computer science education is one of the suggested teaching methods to simplify topics and increase students’ engagement. Moreover, the field of computer science is dominated by males. The use of gamification could increase women’s interest in this field. This paper demonstrates different techniques that were developed by the researchers to employ gamification in teaching computer science topics. The data was collected at the end of the two different courses. Results show that students enjoyed the suggested teaching method and found it useful. This paper also demonstrates two tools and their gamification elements. These tools were developed by the researchers to help people learn computer programming and information security.
AbstractList Generation Z members use their smart devices as part of their everyday routine. Teaching methods may need to be updated to make learning materials more interesting for this generation. This paper suggests gamifying computer science subjects to enhance the learning experience for this generation. Additionally, many students face difficulty in understanding computer science materials and algorithms. Gamifying computer science education is one of the suggested teaching methods to simplify topics and increase students’ engagement. Moreover, the field of computer science is dominated by males. The use of gamification could increase women’s interest in this field. This paper demonstrates different techniques that were developed by the researchers to employ gamification in teaching computer science topics. The data was collected at the end of the two different courses. Results show that students enjoyed the suggested teaching method and found it useful. This paper also demonstrates two tools and their gamification elements. These tools were developed by the researchers to help people learn computer programming and information security.
Author Tout, Samir
Jawad, Hadeel Mohammed
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crossref_primary_10_1080_14703297_2024_2377787
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crossref_primary_10_1108_JARHE_02_2024_0072
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Copyright_xml – notice: 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.
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StartPage 453
SubjectTerms Algorithms
Code Genie
College students
Colleges & universities
Computer programming
Computer science
computer science education
data structures
Education
Electronic devices
Games
Gamification
gamifying
gamifying cybersecurity education
Java
Learning
Science education
sorting algorithms
Students
Teaching
Teaching methods
Teams
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