Facilitating comprehension of basic concepts in computer language implementation courses: A game-based approach

Evaluators is an educational tool that lets instructors in computer language implementation courses generate video games from collections of exercises concerning language processing tasks. For this purpose, the tool adopts attribute grammars as a central model of syntax-directed translation and uses a simple metaphor to map attributed syntax trees and semantic evaluation into videogames. These games provide students with an immersive experience which helps them to better comprehend the fundamental concepts behind attribute grammars. This paper describes Evaluators and reports on its assessment with students in a Compiler Construction course at the Complutense University of Madrid (Spain).