Learning While Playing: Introducing Programming Concepts to Children in Minecraft

Authors

  • Bashaer Alsaadi Computer Information Systems at KING ABDULAZIZ UNIVERSITY
  • Bushra Alsaadi Computer Information Systems Department at KING ABDULAZIZ UNIVERSITY
  • Athir Alghamdi Computer Information Systems Department at KING ABDULAZIZ UNIVERSITY
  • Mashaal Alfhaid Computer Information Systems Department at KING ABDULAZIZ UNIVERSITY
  • Nedaa Almuallim Computer Information Systems Department at KING ABDULAZIZ UNIVERSITY
  • Maram Meccawy Computer Information Systems Department at KING ABDULAZIZ UNIVERSITY

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3991/ijoe.v18i13.26451

Keywords:

Game-based learning, Minecraft, Programming, e-learning

Abstract


Children’s interest in playing popular video games could be utilized for learning and educational purposes. The entertaining and interactive learning environments of digital games can facilitate the learning of a variety of challenging subjects. This paper presents the Creative Programmer, which is a Minecraft modification (Mod) that takes an advantage of the popularity of Minecraft game among children to teach them basic computer programming concepts. This mod targets children aged between (5- 15). The effectiveness of this Mod was tested using a pre and post quizzes. The results indicate that children who did not have any previous knowledge of programming answered most of the test questions correctly, while the performance level of children who were familiar with programming improved in the post-quiz compared to the pre-quiz. Moreover, it has been observed that the familiarity of the Minecraft environment made learning more enjoyable and enhanced the knowledge gaining process.

Author Biographies

Bashaer Alsaadi, Computer Information Systems at KING ABDULAZIZ UNIVERSITY

Bashaer Alsaadi received her master’s degree of Computer Information Systems at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. She worked as a research assistant at the Faculty of Computing and Information Technology, King Abdulaziz University. Bashaer also was working as a software developer at King Abdulaziz University. She is interested in the fields of Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligent, and E-Learning.

Bushra Alsaadi, Computer Information Systems Department at KING ABDULAZIZ UNIVERSITY

Bushra Alsaadi received her master’s degree in computer information systems at King Abdelaziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. She worked as a research assistant and software developer at the Faculty of Computing and Information Technology, King Abdulaziz University. Her research interest focuses on data science, health informatics, e-learning, and software engineering.

Athir Alghamdi, Computer Information Systems Department at KING ABDULAZIZ UNIVERSITY

Athir Saeed Alghamdi, a student doing her Master’s in Information Systems at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. She is interested in technology adoption in education, E-systems, and health informatics. This published work aims to help native Arabic children in acquiring introductory programming skills and computational thinking within an enjoyable environment. Athir is expected to submit her thesis about measuring the effectiveness of an Arabic gamified intervention in combating childhood obesity by the end of 2021. She like solving puzzles and reading in her free times.

Mashaal Alfhaid, Computer Information Systems Department at KING ABDULAZIZ UNIVERSITY

Mashaal Abdulrahman Alfhaid is doing her Master’s in Computer Information System at King AbdulAziz University, she graduated in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information System. Mashaal undergraduate research focused on big data analytics and she also interested in field of software engineering and e-learning.

Nedaa Almuallim, Computer Information Systems Department at KING ABDULAZIZ UNIVERSITY

Nedaa Abdulelah Almuallim is doing her master's in information system at King Abdulaziz University, she expected to submit her thesis in 2021. She is interested in mobile Internet and mobile learning.

Maram Meccawy, Computer Information Systems Department at KING ABDULAZIZ UNIVERSITY

Dr. Maram Meccawy is currently working as an Associate Professor at the Information Systems department, Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 

Dr. Meccawy received her Ph.D in Computer Science from the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom. Following her graduation, she worked in the industry in London and Jeddah before joining the university as an Assistant Professor in 2014. Her research interests include: Technology Enhanced Learning, Adaptive Hypermedia, User Modeling, MOOCS and Distributed Systems. 

Covr iJOE Vol. 18 No. 13 (2022)

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Published

2022-10-19

How to Cite

Alsaadi, B., Alsaadi, B., Alghamdi, A., Alfhaid, M., Almuallim, N., & Meccawy, M. (2022). Learning While Playing: Introducing Programming Concepts to Children in Minecraft. International Journal of Online and Biomedical Engineering (iJOE), 18(13), pp. 4–24. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijoe.v18i13.26451

Issue

Vol. 18 No. 13 (2022)

Section

Papers

License

Copyright (c) 2022 Bashaer Alsaadi, Bushra Alsaadi, Athir Alghamdi, Mashaal Alfhaid, Nedaa Almuallim, Maram Meccawy

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