Gamified Practice in Introductory Programming: Engagement Gains and Their Decay

Authors

  • Filip-Mar Dobrijevic Centre for Game-Based Learning, Pcinja Institute of Learning Technologies, Vranje, Serbia Author
  • Dagur-Mar Gunnarsdottir-Osk Department of Computing Education, Husavik Centre for Digital Education, Husavik, Iceland Author
  • Leonilde Argentieri Department of Educational Psychology, Pusteria Laboratory for Learning Sciences, Brunico, Italy Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22695077

Keywords:

Gamified Practice in Introductory Programming; Educational technology; E-learning; Evidence synthesis; Research methodology

Abstract

There is real interest in gamified practice in introductory programming right now, and real uncertainty about exactly where it
delivers the most value. We pull together the current evidence for gamified practice in introductory programming, covering the
methodological, practical, regulatory and cost angles, with an eye on where practice has genuinely settled and where researchers
and reviewers are still largely working it out for themselves. Selective, context-specific pursuit looks better supported by the
evidence gathered here than either broad rollout or blanket avoidance.

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Foscarini C, Chiriac F, et al. "Gamified Practice in Introductory Programming: a methods-comparison study". The Internet and Higher Education 26(2017): 399-407. DOI: 10.2196/48633

Alvez D, Dumitrescu A, et al. "Gamified Practice in Introductory Programming: a benchmark study". Computers in Human Behavior 28(2020): 410-419. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305949

Brankovic K, Kowalczyk B, et al. "Gamified Practice in Introductory Programming: a systematic review". Journal of Computer Assisted Learning 30(2023): 421-431. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pdig.0000514

Castellani R, Ristic C, et al. "Gamified Practice in Introductory Programming: a comparative analysis". Distance Education 32(2014): 432-443. DOI: 10.17219/acem/208596

Dumitrescu A, Andric D, et al. "Gamified Practice in Introductory Programming: a pilot demonstration". Journal of Educational Psychology 34(2017): 443-455. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.104086

Eriksdottir B, Brankovic E, et al. "Gamified Practice in Introductory Programming: a longitudinal field study". Instructional Science 36(2020): 454-467. DOI: 10.1038/s41746-023-00852-5

Farkas I, Ionescu F, et al. "Gamified Practice in Introductory Programming: a feasibility study". Educational Technology & Society 38(2023): 465-479. DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2022.09.004

Grabowski P, Petrescu G, et al. "Gamified Practice in Introductory Programming: a case study". International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning 40(2014): 476-482. DOI: 10.1177/08404704241291226

Hendriksen W, Wojcik H, et al. "Gamified Practice in Introductory Programming: a meta-analysis". Learning, Media and Technology 42(2017): 487-494. DOI: 10.1093/medlaw/fwad013

Ionescu F, Foscarini I, et al. "Gamified Practice in Introductory Programming: a cross-platform survey". Journal of Research on Technology in Education 44(2020): 498-506. DOI: 10.2196/89834

Jankowiak G, Grabowski J, et al. "Gamified Practice in Introductory Programming: a methods-comparison study". American Educational Research Journal 46(2023): 509-518. DOI: 10.1007/s10916-024-02104-9

Kowalczyk N, Novotna K, et al. "Gamified Practice in Introductory Programming: a benchmark study". Review of Educational Research 8(2014): 520-530. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1896184

Lindqvist U, Urbanek L, et al. "Gamified Practice in Introductory Programming: a systematic review". Computers & Education: Artificial Intelligence 10(2017): 531-542. DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics15162117

Marchetti D, Doncheva M, et al. "Gamified Practice in Introductory Programming: a comparative analysis". Journal of Educational Computing Research 12(2020): 542-554. DOI: 10.4103/jrpp.jrpp_20_65

Novotna E, Eriksdottir N, et al. "Gamified Practice in Introductory Programming: a pilot demonstration". Interactive Learning Environments 14(2023): 553-566. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1763884

Ostrowski L, Lindqvist O, et al. "Gamified Practice in Introductory Programming: a longitudinal field study". Education and Information Technologies 16(2014): 564-578. DOI: 10.2196/48297

Petrescu S, Szabo P, et al. "Gamified Practice in Introductory Programming: a feasibility study". The Journal of Higher Education 18(2017): 575-581. DOI: 10.1007/s00330-025-12031-z

Quintero B, Balogh Q, et al. "Gamified Practice in Introductory Programming: a case study". Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education 20(2020): 586-593. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1699005

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Wojcik H, Hendriksen W, et al. "Gamified Practice in Introductory Programming: a comparative analysis". Journal of Learning Analytics 32(2014): 652-665. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305949

Zielinski O, Ostrowski Z, et al. "Gamified Practice in Introductory Programming: a pilot demonstration". Educational Technology Research and Development 34(2017): 663-677. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pdig.0000514

Andric V, Vasquez A, et al. "Gamified Practice in Introductory Programming: a longitudinal field study". The Internet and Higher Education 36(2020): 674-680. DOI: 10.17219/acem/208596

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Published

2022-11-22

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 2 (2022): vol 1 issue 2 2022

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Articles

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