1. Introduction
You are being asked to participate in a study of personalized learning games that assist in teaching Python programming. Take time to read this document carefully before agreeing to participate. Your participation is completely voluntary.
2. Purpose of the Study
The objective of this study is to find out whether learning programming through playing educational games with adaptive technology can help students learn programming more effectively.
3. Eligibility
To participate in this study, you must be 18 years or older.
4. What Will Happen During the Study
If you agree to take part:
- You will complete a short learning style questionnaire (VARK)
- You will play an interactive learning game that teaches you Python
- You will also be asked to answer a questionnaire about how you felt through the game
- You will complete a usability questionnaire and provide open-ended feedback about your experience with the game
- You will also complete a short questionnaire about your emotional experience during the activity
- Your activity with the game (e.g., time used, hints used, and answers) will be monitored for analysis, but no identifiable information will be captured
The entire game may take one hour to complete. But you may close and come back to it later.
5. Data Collected
To participate and log in to the game, you will be asked to provide your email address. For the purposes of our research analysis, your email will be immediately replaced with a random, anonymous ID number. Your email address will be stored securely and separately from your game data and will not be used in any analysis. All published results will be fully anonymous.
Your game activity that will be recorded include:
- time spent on each coding challenge
- problem attempts numbers and contents
- interaction with the Language Models
6. Risks and Discomforts
There are minimal risks in this study. You may become irritated if a challenge is difficult, but you can stop at any time. No personal sensitive information will be collected.
7. Benefits
You can improve your programming skills in Python and discover more about your own learning style. You can help us develop more powerful learning tools for students in Madagascar and throughout the world.
Upon completion of the study, you will be eligible for a prize drawing. Two winners will be selected at random from the pool of all participants (estimated at 500) to each receive a $50 prize.
8. Confidentiality
Your data will not be disclosed. A code number will be employed instead of your name in all documents. Only the researcher and advisor will have access to your gaming data but no personal identifier will be collected. The results of the study can be published, but no names or identifying information will be used.
9. Voluntary Participation
Your participation is purely voluntary. You can refuse to participate or drop out at any time without penalty or loss of benefits.
10. Questions or Concerns
If you have questions or concerns about this study, you can contact:
Principal Investigator:
Landy Rakotoarison
Email: rakotoal@lafayette.edu
Faculty Advisor:
Pr Christian Lopez
Email: lopezbec@lafayette.edu
If at any point you would want to withdraw from data analysis and remove your data
Contact the Principal Investigator:
Landy Rakotoarison
Email: rakotoal@lafayette.edu
IRB Chair – Lafayette College:
Email: irb@lafayette.edu