Abstract:

Computer programming is a basic component of computer courses. In general, the study begins with programming logic and algorithms. Programming logic aims to develop logical reasoning for the creation of computational algorithms. Already an algorithm consists of a set of steps ordered sequentially to solve a problem. Beginning students of computer courses often have difficulty interpreting problems and organizing the steps of an algorithm. Technological resources can be used in the classroom to assist in this process, such as interactive games, mobile applications, virtual and augmented reality applications, among others. In this context, this paper presents an augmented reality-based educational game proposal to help the teaching of programming logic. The game, for mobile devices, features a virtual environment for building algorithms commonly presented in the classroom. The game consists of a mobile app and a set of cards for augmented reality viewing. Three everyday problems are proposed for which the algorithm sequence of steps must be constructed. The problems are changing a light bulb, changing a car tire and making a cake. The game presents the problem statement and a virtual environment for the construction of the algorithm. The virtual environment contains resource objects and action objects. Resource objects are tools, utensils, and ingredients, while action objects are used to perform actions on resources, such as picking, screwing, mixing, and so on. To solve the problem, the student needs to select the objects and drag them onto an object allocation mat, which represents the sequence of steps of the algorithm. The algorithm output is presented visually using augmented reality. It corresponds to a 3D animation representing a positive or negative result. To view the output, the student needs to position the phone camera on the problem card. If the algorithm is correct, a positive visual result will be displayed, such as a full and showy cake. Otherwise, an incomplete cake will be displayed. In addition, the application provides a pseudocode of the algorithm written in natural language. The results show that the technologies and features selected for game development enable the creation of an interactive and accessible application through mobile devices. It is hoped that the proposed game can be used as an aid in teaching the programming logic in the classroom.

Keywords:

Educational Game, Programming Logic Learning, Augmented Reality.