Motivating and Retaining CS2 Students with a Competative Game Programming Project

Description:

This article discusses motivating and retaining computer science students with a competitive game programming project. Abstract: The widespread goals of student retention, introduction larger programming projects and fostering collaboration among students in computer science courses has led to the inclusion of group projects in many curricula, with task division and collaboration as motivation for students to complete assignments. This article presents a study in a first-year programming assignment with similar goals, but with methods adopting the contrarian view - having students directly and individually compete with one another in a tournament of their respective software agents. This article presents the results of a year-long experiment in an intra-class competitive assignment in the second C++ programming course at the University of North Texas in Denton. Metrics of student performance on the assignment, correlation with course grade, student surveys of the project, and retention statistics are presented. Results demonstrating overwhelmingly positive response and high levels of effort among students are submitted, along with remarks on application to student recruiting, retention, and curriculum design.
Creator(s):
Creation Date: 2007  
Partner(s):
UNT College of Engineering
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UNT Scholarly Works
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Creator (Author):
Garlick, Ryan

University of North Texas

Motivating and Retaining CS2 Students with a Competative Game Programming Project
Creator (Author):
Akl, Robert G.

University of North Texas
Publisher Info:
Place of Publication: [Arlington, Virginia]
Date(s):
  • Creation: 2007
Description:

This article discusses motivating and retaining computer science students with a competitive game programming project. Abstract: The widespread goals of student retention, introduction larger programming projects and fostering collaboration among students in computer science courses has led to the inclusion of group projects in many curricula, with task division and collaboration as motivation for students to complete assignments. This article presents a study in a first-year programming assignment with similar goals, but with methods adopting the contrarian view - having students directly and individually compete with one another in a tournament of their respective software agents. This article presents the results of a year-long experiment in an intra-class competitive assignment in the second C++ programming course at the University of North Texas in Denton. Metrics of student performance on the assignment, correlation with course grade, student surveys of the project, and retention statistics are presented. Results demonstrating overwhelmingly positive response and high levels of effort among students are submitted, along with remarks on application to student recruiting, retention, and curriculum design.
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Physical Description:

9 p.
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Subject(s):
Keyword(s): computer science | competitive game programming | students | education
Source: International Network for Engineering Education and Research (iNEER) Special Volume: Innovations 2007 - World Innovations in Engineering Education and Research, 2007, Arlington: International Network for Engineering Education and Research, pp. 1-9
Partner:
UNT College of Engineering
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Collection:
UNT Scholarly Works
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Identifier:
  • ARK: ark:/67531/metadc30842
Resource Type: Article
Format: Text
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Access: Public
Citation:
Publication Title: International Network for Engineering Education and Research (iNEER) Special Volume: Innovations 2007 - World Innovations in Engineering Education and Research
Page Start: 1
Page End: 9
Peer Reviewed: Yes