GBGD for CT
Introduction
Game-Based Learning

Game-Based Learning

The UNGames group at Universidad Nacional de Colombia explores game-based learning, focusing on two main educational strategies:

  • Game Design as a Teaching Strategy: Learners engage in designing games to develop programming skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities through iterative creation and experimentation.
  • Serious Games: Developing educational games with well-defined learning objectives to convey complex concepts in specific domains.

While this book primarily focuses on game design as a teaching strategy, it also features a serious game developed with p5.js and p5.quadrille.js to introduce quantum programming concepts, demonstrating the versatility of both approaches.

Board Games

Board games offer a solid theoretical foundation for teaching programming, supported by extensive computer science literature on classics like Tetris, Minesweeper, and Chess, which explore algorithmic challenges, computational complexity, and problem-solving strategies.

When paired with p5.quadrille.js, board games can be digitally implemented, transforming abstract programming concepts into interactive, engaging learning experiences by:

  • Providing visual quadrille representations that simplify abstraction and logic-building.
  • Promoting algorithmic thinking through structured, rule-based mechanics.
  • Enabling less error-prone coding through the quadrille API’s intuitive design.
  • Supporting collaborative learning through game-based challenges that foster teamwork and critical thinking.

This synergy between board games and p5.quadrille.js transforms programming education into an immersive and engaging experience, where designing and implementing digital board games becomes a pathway to mastering coding concepts.

p5.quadrille.js

The development of p5.quadrille.js 1 follows a structured software lifecycle, drawing insights from Design-Based Research 2 and Agile methodologies 3, structured into four key stages:

  1. Design & Implementation
    • Introduces API features supporting core programming concepts, including:
      • Functional and object-oriented programming principles.
      • Set and logical operations.
      • Geometric transformations.
      • Game design mechanics.
    • Prioritizes P2D mode to minimize carbon footprint by reducing reliance on WEBGL.
  2. Testing & Documentation
    • Ensures reliability through rigorous unit and regression testing.
    • Updates documentation with practical examples reflecting new API functionalities.
  3. Usage
    • Promotes student participation in:
      • Board game workshops and game design activities.
      • Hands-on programming exercises tied to real-world game development.
    • Provides a platform for sharing projects in the showcase after each learning activity.
  4. Feedback & Evaluation
    • Collects and analyzes feedback to refine the library and teaching strategies.
    • Assesses the impact of p5.quadrille.js on programming skill development.

The widespread use of the p5.quadrille.js API not only boosts skill acquisition but also streamlines development, resulting in more concise, maintainable code.

Sustainability


Research Question: How can UNGames-led game jams for sustainable game-based learning—rooted in self-maintainability, dynamic role transitions, and low-carbon adaptability—enhance computational thinking skills 4 while ensuring long-term scalability across diverse educational contexts?

The sustainability framework consists of three key pillars:

  1. Community-Driven Growth (Social Sustainability)
    • Promotes role transitions from learner to developer and mentor.
    • Engages contributors through game jams, workshops, and conferences.
    • Builds a self-sustaining network, minimizing reliance on external funding.
  2. Collaborative & Active Learning (Economic Sustainability)
    • Develops versatile game-based learning tools applicable across disciplines.
    • Integrates board games and digital tools into formal and informal education settings.
    • Fosters interdisciplinary collaborations to refine and enhance learning methodologies.
  3. Long-Term Impact (Environmental Sustainability)
    • Ensures the continuous refinement of p5.quadrille.js through iterative feedback loops.
    • Strengthens institutional adoption of game-based learning frameworks.
    • Incorporates low-carbon AI solutions (e.g., DeepSeek) for adaptive, energy-efficient learning.
    • Promotes hybrid learning models (virtual + in-person) to reduce environmental impact.

By integrating dynamic roles, self-sustainability, and low-carbon adaptability, this framework ensures scalability, resilience, and long-term impact in game-based learning.

References

  1. Charalambos, J. P. (2024). p5.quadrille.js: P5.js quadrille library. SoftwareX, 27, 101838. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.softx.2024.101838. ↩︎

  2. Tinoca, L., Piedade, J., Santos, S., Pedro, A., & Gomes, S. (2022). Design-based research in the educational field: A systematic literature review. Education Sciences, 12(6), 410. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci12060410. ↩︎

  3. Dybå, T., & Dingsøyr, T. (2008). Empirical studies of agile software development: A systematic review. Information and Software Technology, 50, 833–859. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infsof.2008.01.006. ↩︎

  4. Wing, J. M. (2006). Computational thinking. Communications of the ACM, 49(3), 33–35. https://doi.org/10.1145/1111874.1118215. ↩︎

Intended AudienceGrid-Based Games