ERIC Number: EJ1000760
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013
Pages: 26
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0899-3408
EISSN: N/A
The Influence of a Game-Making Project on Male and Female Learners' Attitudes to Computing
Robertson, Judy
Computer Science Education, v23 n1 p58-83 2013
There is a pressing need for gender inclusive approaches to engage young people in computer science. A recent popular approach has been to harness learners' enthusiasm for computer games to motivate them to learn computer science concepts through game authoring. This article describes a study in which 992 learners across 13 schools took part in a game-making project. It provides evidence from 225 pre-test and post-test questionnaires on how learners' attitudes to computing changed during the project, as well as qualitative reflections from the class teachers on how the project affected their learners. Results indicate that girls did not enjoy the experience as much as boys, and that in fact, the project may make pupils less inclined to study computing in the future. This has important implications for future efforts to engage young people in computing. (Contains 2 tables, 5 figures and 8 notes.)
Descriptors: Computer Science Education, Gender Differences, Computer Games, Educational Benefits, Student Projects, Student Attitudes, Computer Attitudes, Attitude Change, Teacher Attitudes, Student Surveys, Teacher Surveys, Focus Groups, Interviews, Elementary School Students, Secondary School Students, Elementary School Teachers, Secondary School Teachers, Foreign Countries
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Elementary Secondary Education; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United Kingdom (Scotland)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A