DEVELOPING A GAME-BASED PLATFORM FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN PROGRAMMING

This research centers on the development and validation of a game-based platform for programming learning, aimed at enhancing student engagement and motivation in introductory programming courses. The platform integrates live coding features with game elements, including characters, points, badges, leaderboards, and interactive challenges. Employing a research and development approach through the waterfall model, the study encompassed stages of requirement analysis, system design, implementation, and testing. Testing phases included unit testing, system testing, and user testing to ensure technical functionality and user satisfaction. A total of 276 Informatics students from Universitas Wijaya Kusuma Surabaya participated, using the platform over a five week period. User satisfaction was assessed with the End User Computing Satisfaction (EUCS) instrument, evaluating key dimensions such as content, format, ease of use, timeliness, and accuracy. The findings indicated high levels of user satisfaction, with scores exceeding 4.00, signaling positive reception and readiness for broader application in programming learning. Game-based platform presents an innovative approach to programming instruction, promoting student autonomy and motivation and providing a practical, hands-on learning experience through real time coding challenges.