CTArcade: learning computational thinking while training virtual characters through game play

Authors:
Tak Yeon Lee;Matthew Louis Mauriello;John Ingraham;Awalin Sopan;June Ahn;Benjamin B. Bederson
Affiliations:
University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA;University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA;University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA;University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA;University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA;University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
Venue:
CHI '12 Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems
Year:
2012

Citing 8
Cited 0

Cooperative inquiry: developing new technologies for children with children

Proceedings of the SIGCHI conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
Studying the language and structure in non-programmers' solutions to programming problems

International Journal of Human-Computer Studies
Computational thinking

Communications of the ACM - Self managed systems
RoboCode & problem-based learning: a non-prescriptive approach to teaching programming

Proceedings of the 11th annual SIGCSE conference on Innovation and technology in computer science education
Storytelling alice motivates middle school girls to learn computer programming

Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
Education: Paving the way for computational thinking

Communications of the ACM - Designing games with a purpose
Scratch: programming for all

Communications of the ACM - Scratch Programming for All
Scalable game design and the development of a checklist for getting computational thinking into public schools

Proceedings of the 41st ACM technical symposium on Computer science education

Quantified Score

Hi-index	0.00

Visualization

Abstract

In this paper we describe CTArcade, a web application framework that seeks to engage users through game play resulting in the improvement of computational thinking (CT) skills. Our formative study indicates that CT skills are employed when children are asked to define strategies of common games such as Connect Four. In CTArcade, users can train their own virtual characters while playing games with it. Trained characters then play matches against other virtual characters. Based on reviewing the matches played, users can improve their game character. A basic usability evaluation was performed on the system, which helped to define plans for improving CTArcade and assessing its design goals.