Developing Computational Thinking Through Tabletop Game Design

• In Event: Thursday Roundtable Session 12:40 pm
  In Roundtable Session: AI and Computational Thinking in Action (Table 4)

Abstract

This study investigates computational thinking (CT) in a tabletop game design summer camp, as opposed to traditional views of CT being computer-based. The researchers used CT concepts to analyze campers’ analog tabletop game designs. The research sought to answer whether computational thinking manifested during a youth analog game design activity. The researchers identified four manifestations of CT during the camp: abstracting and modularizing; incrementing and iterating; reusing and remixing; and testing and debugging. The study found that learning game design in analog contexts might be as effective as digital game design and coding in terms of engagement with CT practices.

Authors

• Lucas John Jensen, Georgia Southern University

• Jackie HeeYoung Kim, Georgia Southern University