Game Based Learning of Computer Programming in Early Years Education
Mohammed Alghamdi
Applied Computing Research Group, School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
Dhiya Al-Jumeily
Applied Computing Research Group, School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
Applied Computing Research Group, School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
Receiving Date:
2017-01-03
Acceptance Date:
2017-01-30
Publication Date:
2017-03-05
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Abstract
Nowadays, commerce, facilities, knowledge, amusement and so on are all in one way or another controlled by software that has been developed by a programming language. The United Kingdom is waking up to the need for children to start being taught at an early age about how the progressively digitalised world in which they are living is created. In September 2014, computer programming was made part of the UK’s national curriculum for pupils in early years education. With this decision came several challenges for UK primary schools, including the school teachers and pupils e.g. lack of engagement on learning programming. This paper provides a detailed discussion of game-based learning and how it can lead to reduce the challenges of learning programming and ease the process of learning computer programming for pupils in early years education. It was also aimed on this paper to illustrate the details of the two experiments conducted at a UK primary school. The first experiment was done on teachers to investigate to what extent do they agree that teaching pupils programming in early years education would be a helpful step and could positively affect their pupils’ learning and the second experiment was conducted on pupils to measure the impacts of the proposed system on their programming performance and enjoyment in learning programming in comparison with two other different learning methods include learning programming from a school teacher and Scratch programming system. Results have indicated that pupils who learnt programming from the proposed system (which is based on the approach of learning through playing a game) found learning programming more enjoyable and fun, and it increased their interest in continuing to learn programming compared to those who learnt programming from a classroom teacher (they found learning programming difficult and boring).
Keywords:
Game; Education; Programming; Children; Software
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