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Unplugged gamification in education: Developing computational thinking skills through embodied gameplay.

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Title: Unplugged gamification in education: Developing computational thinking skills through embodied gameplay.
Authors: Christopoulos, Athanasios1 atchri@utu.fi, Mystakidis, Stylianos2, Stylios, Chrysostomos3, Tsoulos, Ioannis G.3
Source: Journal of Educational Research. 2026, Vol. 119 Issue 1, p77-90. 14p.
Subject Terms: *Educational games, *Computational thinking, *Summer vacations (Schools), *Collaborative learning, Health risk assessment
Abstract: The study examines the effectiveness of unplugged gaming activities for stimulating Computational Thinking (CT). Departing from traditional, sedentary digital gamification, physically active alternatives were sought to reduce the potential health risks of excessive screen time. Additionally, efforts were made to engage girls. Using a mixed-methods approach, 311 adolescents (13–15 years old) were randomly assigned to an escape room or treasure hunt, where over a five-day summer vacation program, they participated in activities designed to improve CT components. Quantitative analysis revealed significant improvements in CT test scores after the intervention in both conditions for both genders. Qualitative analysis confirmed these findings and further highlighted their impact on engagement. Collaborative learning and cognitive challenge were positive aspects, while some challenges related to team dynamics and task complexity were also identified. The study demonstrates the potential of physically active gamification in CT education and highlights the importance of taking gender-specific experiences into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Educational Research is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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  Data: The study examines the effectiveness of unplugged gaming activities for stimulating Computational Thinking (CT). Departing from traditional, sedentary digital gamification, physically active alternatives were sought to reduce the potential health risks of excessive screen time. Additionally, efforts were made to engage girls. Using a mixed-methods approach, 311 adolescents (13–15 years old) were randomly assigned to an escape room or treasure hunt, where over a five-day summer vacation program, they participated in activities designed to improve CT components. Quantitative analysis revealed significant improvements in CT test scores after the intervention in both conditions for both genders. Qualitative analysis confirmed these findings and further highlighted their impact on engagement. Collaborative learning and cognitive challenge were positive aspects, while some challenges related to team dynamics and task complexity were also identified. The study demonstrates the potential of physically active gamification in CT education and highlights the importance of taking gender-specific experiences into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Label:
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Educational Research is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.1080/00220671.2025.2517266
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        Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Summer vacations (Schools)
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              M: 01
              Text: 2026
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