Martinha Piteira defendeu hoje o seu doutoramento em Ciências e Tecnologias da Informação com o tema “A Aprendizagem da Programação no Ensino Superior: A Adoção de Cursos OnLine Gamificados”. Parabéns à agora Doutora.
Orientador Prof. Dr. Carlos J. Costa
Co-Orientadora Prof. Dra. Manuela Aparicio
Abstract:
The crescent importance of programming learning has been subjecting to several studies in the last years. Those studies propose some solutions to mitigate programming learning difficulties.
In this context, this dissertation proposes motivating rich experiences to engage students in programming learning, contributing to ensure perseverance in learners. This dissertation starts to present a study related to the difficulties in programming learning perceptions of students and teachers and presenting some solutions to engage students better. Based on gamification and flow theory, here is proposed a theoretical framework for programming learning online courses. In this setting, it was developed an online gamified course to instantiate the theoretical framework. It was conducted a study with several students of engineering programs, to understand their perception of the gamified online course. In this dissertation, was developed a theoretical, technological adoption model of programming learning online courses, in which were identified the main adoption determinants. This model was studied and conducted an empirical study, in which was surveyed to validate the theoretical hypotheses. Students’ personality characteristics, course platform ease of use, enjoy, course usefulness, and course flow, are among the main determinant adoption dimensions. The various studies of this dissertation demonstrate that a gamified course design, and students’ personality characteristics are key drivers in programming learning on-line adoption courses.
