Game SplashCode
SplashCode is a low-budget board game to reinforce the teaching of basic algorithms and programming concepts.
Core concepts: Algorithms and Programming
Educational stage: Middle school
The goal of the game SplashCode is to demonstrate algorithm and programming concepts as part of computational thinking. After playing the game school students will be able to:
- Decompose the steps needed to solve a problem in a precise sequence of instructions.
- Recognize that an algorithm is a set of step-by-step instructions to complete tasks.
Game material:
- Game material
- Videos explaining the game
- Questionnaire for evaluting the game (based on MEEGA+KIDS)
The game was developed in a systematic way following an instructional design process, and applied and evaluated in a Brazilian public middle school. First results indicate that the game can have a positive impact on motivation, user experience, and student learning, as well as contribute positively to social interaction, relevance and fun, providing a pleasant, playful, efficient and effective learning experience. The game was also evaluated very positively regarding usability facilitating understanding.
For comments, future game release suggestions, content updates/corrections, and general information, please contact us at computacaonaescola@incod.ufsc.br.
More information: C. Gresse von Wangenheim, G. Araújo e Silva de Medeiros,, R. Missfeldt Filho, G. Petri, F. da Cruz Pinheiro, M. N. F. Ferreira, J. C. R. Hauck. SplashCode– A Board Game for Learning an Understanding of Algorithms in Middle School. Informatics in Education, accepted for publication, 2019.
The game is available under the Creative Commons licence for non-commerical use.
