Usage testing of game based learning in computer programming courses

This paper describes the operation of a learning tool using the Game Based Learning (GBL) methodology. The developed tool, called e-Liza, operates as an activity from the e-learning platform Moodle. E-Liza allows us to pose question-response contests within individual or group games. This tool has been tested in several courses about programming languages undertaken in the Telecommunication Engineering Technical School, University of Valladolid, in the school year 2009-2010. In all the experiments performed, e-Liza has been well-accepted. The percentages of students passing the course who have used e-Liza application exceed the 80%. An important feature of the application is that it allows gathering a great number of statistical data from each student for each topic, showing a wide variety of graphs which can be used by the professor to evaluate the knowledge acquired by the students in any moment, and so, checking the extent of meeting the course objectives.