Odyssey of Phoenix: A Propriety Game Based Learning Game to Learn Object-Oriented Programming

Abstract

Object-oriented programming is a required fundamental skillset for all computer science related students. However, teaching object-oriented programming to undergraduate year one students is challenging and academician need to use a different approach to find suitable methods to enhance student understanding, self-interest and self-experimentation. However, the classroom- based learning and teaching methods are insufficient to support learners or students, especially in learning a programming related subject. A game-based learning approach could be an efficient way for the students to learn object-oriented programming. This is mainly because the empirical evidence that validates computer games is an efficient tool for learning object-oriented programming is still absent from the literature. The proposed computer game is developed according to the game-based learning design approach model, where several relevant theories, such as condition of learn, operant conditioning, constructive, hierarchy of needs and bloom taxonomy are included to ensure that the entire learning process is motivating and easy to learn. The game-based learning design model is divided to three layers, such as presentation layer, learning theory layer and core game-play layer. Each layer covers a different expect, where focus is on how to make the learning environment more effective for player to learn object-oriented programming. The proposed game is a role-playing game named Odyssey of Phoenix that motivates users to learn object-oriented programming in an easy and interactive environment. Players will play along the flow of each game quest and they will easily learn and pick up the object-oriented programming paradigm. Players are not required to have any coding practice and learn via the provided game-play with pseudo code support. A group of 20 students in the second year of Bachelor of Computer Science were offered to participate a pilot testing to evaluate the game. The respondents showed positive results, where most students agreed that the proposed game is efficient as a learning tool to help them understand the object-oriented programming paradigm better. Thus, the invention of this role-playing game for novice or beginner learners to learn object-oriented programming is necessary. The objective of this paper is to discuss the development of a propriety game-based learning game to learn the object-oriented programming paradigm and examine its acceptance as a learning tool among undergraduate computer science students in Malaysia.