The lone wolf dies, the pack survives?: Analyzing a Computer Science Learning Application on a Multitouch-Tabletop

Abstract

Learning Regular Expressions has been an unavoidable, mostly repetitive and unpleasant experience for many students of theoretical computer science. In this paper, we present the results of our research on learning regular expression in an innovative environment. Using large multitouch tabletop displays provides us the opportunity to design a serious game to convey this topic as a collaborative learning experience for four players in extracurricular setting. In this paper, we introduce our platform, the developed game and the underlying didactical approach as well as our study design. The results of the study are presented and discussed, focussing on interaction events and timing and latencies affected by interaction outcome. Lastly, the outlook provides our ideas of benefits for collaborative serious game design and further approaches of designing and research CS learning applications.