Effects of Computer Game-based Instruction on Students' Programming Achievement in Taiwan

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of computer game-based instruction on students' programming achievement. This quasi-experiment proceeded in 2007. Participants were 146 technology college management information system students enrolled in a Visual Basic programming class. Students in four intact classes were assigned one of two instructional methods and received a ten-week treatment. Experiment groups were taught by computer game-based instruction, the control group received traditional programming instruction. Overall, the results showed that computer game-based instruction has a great potential in facilitating student's problem-solving ability and improving programming achievement. The implications were discussed in the paper.