Last year, the RAPT (Reality and Programming Together) program ran CS1-CS3 course sections using games as a motivator in teaching traditional outcomes. Indicators such as grades on common finals, retention of students, and performance in CS4 were used to compare regular students with RAPT students. Retention for CS1 and CS2 was almost the same for RAPT and regular students. Student success rates changed in CS3 (100%) and CS4 (95%) for RAPT students when compared with regular CS3 (84%) and CS4 (73%) students. We discuss the RAPT courses and course materials along with course differences between regular and RAPT sections that could have led to different success rates for students.
Colloquia Series page.