Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

All Outputs (6)

Motivating Students to Learn How to Write Code Using a Gamified Programming Tutor (2023)
Journal Article
Gordon, N. A., & Grey, S. (2023). Motivating Students to Learn How to Write Code Using a Gamified Programming Tutor. Education Sciences, 13(3), Article 230. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13030230

Engagement and retention are widely acknowledged problems in computer science and more general higher education. The need to develop programming skills is increasingly ubiquitous, but especially so in computer science where it is one of the core comp... Read More about Motivating Students to Learn How to Write Code Using a Gamified Programming Tutor.

Smart, social, flexible and fun: Escaping the flatlands of virtual learning environments (2019)
Journal Article
Brayshaw, M., Gordon, N. A., & Grey, S. (2019). Smart, social, flexible and fun: Escaping the flatlands of virtual learning environments. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, 998, 1047-1060. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22868-2_70

© 2019, Springer Nature Switzerland AG. This paper describes the development of intelligent, social, flexible and game-based pedagogic approaches and their applications in Virtual Learning Environment based Education. Applications of computer science... Read More about Smart, social, flexible and fun: Escaping the flatlands of virtual learning environments.

Approaches to Measuring Attendance and Engagement (2018)
Journal Article
Grey, S., & Gordon, N. A. (2018). Approaches to Measuring Attendance and Engagement. New Directions in the Teaching of Physical Sciences, 13(13), Article 2692. https://doi.org/10.29311/ndtps.v0i13.2767

In this paper, we argue that, where we measure student attendance, this creates an extrinsic motivator in the form of a reward for (apparent) engagement and can thus lead to undesirable behaviour and outcomes. We go on to consider a number of other m... Read More about Approaches to Measuring Attendance and Engagement.

Constraints and autonomy for creativity in extracurricular gamejams and curricular assessment (2018)
Journal Article
Grey, S., Parker, D., & Gordon, N. (2018). Constraints and autonomy for creativity in extracurricular gamejams and curricular assessment. Research in Learning Technology, 26, Article 2023. https://doi.org/10.25304/rlt.v26.2023

The engagement observed by the players of the games that they play is a desirable quality that has not gone unnoticed in the field of education, leading to concepts such as gamification of education, game-based learning and serious games for training... Read More about Constraints and autonomy for creativity in extracurricular gamejams and curricular assessment.

Using formal game design methods to embed learning outcomes into game mechanics and avoid emergent behaviour (2017)
Journal Article
Grey, S., Grey, D., Gordon, N., & Purdy, J. (2017). Using formal game design methods to embed learning outcomes into game mechanics and avoid emergent behaviour. International Journal of Game-Based Learning, 7(3), 63-73. https://doi.org/10.4018/ijgbl.2017070106

This paper offers an approach to designing game based learning experiences inspired by the Mechanics-Dynamics-Aesthetics (MDA) model (Hunicke et al, 2004) and the elemental tetrad (Schell, 2008) model for game design. A case for game based learning a... Read More about Using formal game design methods to embed learning outcomes into game mechanics and avoid emergent behaviour.

Maximising gain for minimal pain: Utilising natural game mechanics (2013)
Journal Article
Gordon, N., Brayshaw, M., & Grey, S. (2013). Maximising gain for minimal pain: Utilising natural game mechanics. Innovation in teaching and learning in information and computer sciences, 12(1), 27-38. https://doi.org/10.11120/ital.2013.00004

This paper considers the application of natural games mechanics within higher education as a vehicle to encourage student engagement and achievement of desired learning outcomes. It concludes with desiderata of features for a learning environment whe... Read More about Maximising gain for minimal pain: Utilising natural game mechanics.