The power of the game as a mediator tool paradigm of object oriented teaching-learning process

• Published in: 2017 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE) pp. 1 - 8
• Main Authors: De Oliveira, Eder Diego, Camargo, Murilo Crivellari, Barbosa, Cinthyan Renata S.C., Brancher, Jacques Duílio, de Oliveira Barros, Vanessa Tavares, De S. Campos, Vitor Valerio, De Barros, Rodolfo Miranda
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 01.10.2017
• Subjects: Business; Cognition; Computer Games; Cooperative Games; Education; Entertainment industry; Games; Meaningful Learning; Object Orientation; Object oriented modeling
• DOI: 10.1109/FIE.2017.8286341

With the diffusion of new technologies and the impact they have on society, it became necessary to understand and use them in searching for ways to help both students and teachers in the teaching and learning processes. In this context, this research presents a development model that aims to assist teachers and developers in the elaboration of educational games. This model is named Model Gaia Abstraction Game, which employs cooperative gaming techniques and the theory of meaningful learning in order to support game development. As a case study, the model was used in the development of Gaia Abstraction Game Object Orientation, which aims to assist the teaching and learning process of the Object-Oriented paradigm - one of the most complex concepts in current computing theory. Since this paradigm works mostly with objects abstraction and classification, the concept is not always clear for the students, even though it is core for the initial subjects in computing courses. This study is grounded on researches of authors who approach the importance of games as facilitators in the learning process. The major contributions provided by this study are to: explain how the game can help increase students' interest; make the classes dynamic and engaging; help students learn in a playful and pleasurable way; facilitate the mediation of knowledge; and create a mutual cooperation environment among students, promoting their full development through motivation.