{"id":{"repo_id":"uoit","oai_identifier":"oai:ontariotechu.scholaris.ca:10155/536"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/uoit/oai:ontariotechu.scholaris.ca:10155/536","repository":{"repo_id":"uoit","name":"Ontario Institute of Technology","base_url":"https://ontariotechu.scholaris.ca/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"RoboBUG: a game-based approach to learning debugging techniques","abstract":"Debugging is the systematic process of finding and fixing errors in a computer program, and it is considered a critical skill that should be acquired early in a programmer's career. As an alternative to traditional approaches for learning debugging, we propose the use of a game-based approach for introducing debugging techniques. Specifically, we designed a game called RoboBUG in which a player assumes the role of a futuristic programmer trying to find “bugs" in a mechanical suit. We then conducted an evaluation to assess novice programmers playing the RoboBUG game and novices who instead completed a traditional written assignment. Our results found that study participants reported a positive attitude towards using games for learning, and those who played the RoboBUG game believed it to be more fun and engaging than written assignments.","abstract_html":"Debugging is the systematic process of finding and fixing errors in a computer program, and it is considered a critical skill that should be acquired early in a programmer's career. As an alternative to traditional approaches for learning debugging, we propose the use of a game-based approach for introducing debugging techniques. Specifically, we designed a game called RoboBUG in which a player assumes the role of a futuristic programmer trying to find “bugs" in a mechanical suit. We then conducted an evaluation to assess novice programmers playing the RoboBUG game and novices who instead completed a traditional written assignment. Our results found that study participants reported a positive attitude towards using games for learning, and those who played the RoboBUG game believed it to be more fun and engaging than written assignments.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Miljanovic, Michael A."],"institution":"University of Ontario Institute of Technology","degree_name":"Master of Science (MSc)","degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":"Computer Science","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Bradbury, Jeremy"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2015,"date_issued":"2015-03-01","date_published":"2015-03-01","updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:35:39Z","subjects":["Bugs","Debugging","Game-based learning","Education","Serious games"],"languages":["en"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/10155/536","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Bradbury, Jeremy"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Miljanovic, Michael A."]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2015-06-10T18:02:57Z","2022-03-29T17:06:03Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2015-06-10T18:02:57Z","2022-03-29T17:06:03Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2015-03-01"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Computer Science"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science (MSc)"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["University of Ontario Institute of Technology"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Bugs","Debugging","Game-based learning","Education","Serious games"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["en"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/10155/536"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Debugging is the systematic process of finding and fixing errors in a computer program, and it is considered a critical skill that should be acquired early in a programmer's career. As an alternative to traditional approaches for learning debugging, we propose the use of a game-based approach for introducing debugging techniques. Specifically, we designed a game called RoboBUG in which a player assumes the role of a futuristic programmer trying to find “bugs" in a mechanical suit. We then conducted an evaluation to assess novice programmers playing the RoboBUG game and novices who instead completed a traditional written assignment. Our results found that study participants reported a positive attitude towards using games for learning, and those who played the RoboBUG game believed it to be more fun and engaging than written assignments."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["RoboBUG: a game-based approach to learning debugging techniques"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Bradbury, Jeremy"],"dc:creator":["Miljanovic, Michael A."],"dc:date.accessioned":["2015-06-10T18:02:57Z","2022-03-29T17:06:03Z"],"dc:date.available":["2015-06-10T18:02:57Z","2022-03-29T17:06:03Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2015-03-01"],"dc:description.abstract":["Debugging is the systematic process of finding and fixing errors in a computer program, and it is considered a critical skill that should be acquired early in a programmer's career. As an alternative to traditional approaches for learning debugging, we propose the use of a game-based approach for introducing debugging techniques. Specifically, we designed a game called RoboBUG in which a player assumes the role of a futuristic programmer trying to find “bugs" in a mechanical suit. We then conducted an evaluation to assess novice programmers playing the RoboBUG game and novices who instead completed a traditional written assignment. Our results found that study participants reported a positive attitude towards using games for learning, and those who played the RoboBUG game believed it to be more fun and engaging than written assignments."],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://hdl.handle.net/10155/536"],"dc:language.iso":["en"],"dc:subject":["Bugs","Debugging","Game-based learning","Education","Serious games"],"dc:title":["RoboBUG: a game-based approach to learning debugging techniques"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Computer Science"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science (MSc)"],"thesis:institution_name":["University of Ontario Institute of Technology"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:35:39Z"}