Design and development of a smart learning environment to support computational thinking and programming education using virtual reality technology
Research summary
This research focuses on designing a smart learning environment (SLE) using virtual reality mini games to support students' computational thinking skills. Aside from enhancing the teaching and learning of CT, this research aims to support first-year students and novices of computer science with the opportunity to gain CT skills through an experiential learning approach. The goal of the research is to design and develop VR mini games through a rigorous process of the design science research methodology in order to provide artefact that allows students to learn CT concepts such as algorithmic thinking, recursive thinking, pattern recognition, and abstraction of problems. This research will measure students' learning achievement and cognitive benefits through a field experiment with first-year university students in Nigeria and Finland. Currently, we have developed a VR mini games application in the VR EdTech Lab located at the School of Computing, University of Eastern Finland. The mini games were co-designed with students from within Finland and abroad in order to achieve a student-centered learning environment. The research has produced over seven research papers published in ranked journals and conferences as shown in the link (https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=mSqmwdgAAAAJ&hl=en).
The research is being supervised by professors from the School of Computing, University of Finland, and Luleå University of Technology (LTU) Sweden. The professors are specialists in VR technology, educational games, and ICT4D.
Description
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Research info
Research title
Design and development of a smart learning environment to support computational thinking and programming education using virtual reality technology
Research timeline
1.1.2018 - 1.12.2001
Keywords
computational thinking computing education mini games mobile learning programming smart learning virtual reality
Region
Africa
Countries
Array
Institution
University of Eastern Finland
School of Computing
Joensuu, Finland
Funding instrument
Ministry for Foreign Affairs (ICI, HEI-ICI, N-S-S)
Project budget
0 - 200,000 euros
Head of research
Friday Joseph Agbo
Research team
Professor Markku Tukiainen, Dr. Jarkko Suhonen, Dr. Solomon Oyelere, MSc. Friday Joseph Agbo
Partners
University of Eastern Finland, Federal University Lokoja
Contact information
Friday Agbo
0417138638
fridaya@uef.fi
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Record last updated
10.3.2021