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A fantasy adventure game as a learning environment: why learning to program is so difficult and what can be done about it

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Published:04 June 1997Publication History
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Abstract

A number of factors contribute to the difficulty of learning computer programming, and by examining some of these factors we can hope to design an environment that is more conducive to the learning process. I analyse some of these problems and find that one possible solution is to embed the educational content into a fantasy adventure game. Designing an educational game is, however, fraught with difficulties beyond those normally associated with writing such a program, as there are conflicts between educational and entertainment goals. Described are a few of these conflicts from the early stages of my project, and the compromises that they have engendered.

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          • Published in

            cover image ACM SIGCSE Bulletin
            ACM SIGCSE Bulletin  Volume 29, Issue 3
            Sept. 1997
            143 pages
            ISSN:0097-8418
            DOI:10.1145/268809
            Issue’s Table of Contents
            • cover image ACM Conferences
              ITiCSE '97: Proceedings of the 2nd conference on Integrating technology into computer science education
              June 1997
              147 pages
              ISBN:0897919238
              DOI:10.1145/268819

            Copyright © 1997 ACM

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            Association for Computing Machinery

            New York, NY, United States

            Publication History

            • Published: 4 June 1997

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