Date of Award

6-18-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Publisher

Santa Clara : Santa Clara University, 2025

Department

Computer Science and Engineering

First Advisor

Sean Choi

Abstract

In our ever-evolving technological landscape, it is becoming more and more important for students of all ages to have at least a basic concept of coding fundamentals. It’s not just the basic knowledge of how to code; knowing important coding concepts is just as important. To help introduce these concepts to young students, we developed an educational game in the Roblox platform aimed at teaching foundational programming concepts—specifically recursion—to young learners through interactive and engaging gameplay. Leveraging Roblox’s accessibility and popularity among younger audiences, the game introduces players to recursive thinking in a visual and intuitive manner. Players control a mech as they progress through a tree-structured level, clearing combat rooms and unlocking new areas by completing lessons and quizzes embedded in the environment. Educational content is reinforced through dynamic teaching moments, interactive quiz checkpoints, and a code-based upgrade system that frames programming logic as in-game progression. By integrating core computer science principles with entertaining game mechanics, this project aims to make complex topics like recursion more approachable, memorable, and enjoyable for beginners.

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