Game-Based Approaches, Gamification, and Programming Language Training

Abstract

Programming language training is a process that necessitates the continuity of individual motivation and interest. Many of the students who are assigned to computer programming courses have a lack of motivation to engage in programming tasks. Computer games or in-class gamification activities which could provide the students an opportunity to get rid of the boring abstract coding, can be used as motivational tools for improving the effectiveness of learning in programming language training. In this context, the purposes of the chapter can be summarized under two titles: 1) In which ways computer games are used in and 2) how gamification strategies are adapted to programming language courses. Additonally, at the end of the chapter, authors gave a sample of an experimental gamification research that the academic and motivational effectiveness of game strategies were investigated in a ActionScript 3.0 course.