Online game-based programming learning for high school students — A case study

[Context] The inclusion of programming concepts in high school education has been emerging, since applying computing in high school education is a way to motivate and prepare students into the field of technology. [Objective] This work evaluates the teaching programming games for high school students based on different forms of distance education (online video lessons, broadcasted live or recorded, and tutorials in PDF). [Method] A case study was performed in the second half of 2014 with 30 high school students enrolled in an online game programming challenge. The students had access to the different formats of online lessons and they were monitored by tutors in a online learning environment. [Results] Over 75% of the students performed and sent all the activities requested in the study, suggesting that all investigated online formats are effective. However, 85% of students indicated their preference to use recorded video classes to learn programming. Finally, 100% of the students said that they would participate again in such challenge, showing the attractiveness of the game development. [Conclusions] We considered that online formats (specially recorded video) can be used to promote the development of games to introduce programming knowledge in high school education. However, the lessons learned (difficults found and improvement suggestions) should be taken in consideration to implement online solutions in large scale.