Σχεδιασμός και υλοποίηση οικοσυστήματος παιχνιδοποίησης της δεξιότητας του προγραμματισμού Η/Υ
Date Issued
November 8, 2023
Type
Πτυχιακή Εργασία
Abstract
In today's digital era, the educational landscape is undergoing a seismic shift, largely propelled by technological advancements. Traditional pedagogical methods are being re-evaluated in light of new, innovative strategies. One such strategy that has garnered significant attention is gamification. Defined as the infusion of game design principles into non-gaming contexts, gamification offers a unique blend of motivation, engagement, and interactive learning experiences.
This thesis delves into a niche yet crucial domain: programming education. With the increasing demand for programming skills in various sectors, there's an imperative need to enhance the learning experience for students. The central premise of this research is to investigate the potential of gamification in this context, specifically through a web-based platform tailored for programming education.
The proposed platform is not merely a digital tool; it's an ecosystem designed to resonate with the intrinsic and extrinsic motivations of students. By integrating game-centric elements such as challenges, leaderboards, badges, and achievements, the platform aims to transform the often daunting task of learning programming into an engaging journey. The platform promotes both individual achievements and collaborative learning. Students can embark on individual coding challenges or team up for collaborative projects, fostering a sense of community and teamwork. A standout feature is the profile viewing capability, which acts as a digital portfolio, allowing students to monitor their progression, achievements, and even compare their trajectory with their peers.
From a technical standpoint, the platform's development was a meticulous process. Cutting-edge technologies, including HTML5, PHP, JavaScript, and MariaDB, were harnessed to ensure a seamless user experience. The initial version was hosted on a local WAMP server, providing a sandbox environment for testing and iterations. Subsequent versions were migrated to a dedicated university server, ensuring scalability and robustness. Like any software development process, challenges were encountered, especially in areas like file upload mechanisms and challenge registration modules. However, with iterative feedback and agile development practices, these challenges were addressed, leading to a refined version of the platform.
To ascertain the platform's impact on student engagement and learning outcomes, empirical experiments were conducted. Preliminary findings are promising. Students using the platform showcased higher levels of engagement, better retention of programming concepts, and an overall positive attitude towards programming. These findings robustly support the central hypothesis: gamification, when thoughtfully implemented, can revolutionize programming education.
In conclusion, this research contributes significantly to the discourse on gamification in education. It underscores the potential of web-based platforms in fostering active learning and sustained engagement. The insights gleaned from this study have profound implications, not just for programming education, but for the broader educational landscape, hinting at the future of digital learning.
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