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PythonGo!: A gamified app for Learning Python Programming

10.24050/reia.v23i45.1920
Published 2026-01-01
Articles

Abstract

Learning programming represents a significant challenge for many engineering students, especially during the early stages of their academic training. This article presents the development and implementation of PythonGo!, a web application designed to enhance students' motivation and engagement in learning basic programming concepts through a structured gamification strategy. The application was developed using the Scrum agile methodology, which enabled the iterative and organized construction of key artifacts such as BPMN diagrams, the database structure, functional modules, and the user interface. For its validation, a non-experimental quantitative approach was applied with a sample of 33 students from different engineering programs. The results obtained through a structured survey indicated a positive evaluation from the students: 86.7% reported that the gamification elements helped them stay motivated, 93.3% considered the instructions and objectives of the exercises to be clear, and 93.3% rated the interface as intuitive and easy to use. However, some limitations and areas for improvement were also identified, such as the clarity of instructions in certain activities. These findings suggest that a gamified application, designed and contextualized to support programming instruction, can be well received by students and contribute to a more engaging and meaningful learning experience. It is concluded that the integration of gamification strategies, combined with a structured and user-centered development process, offers a viable alternative for innovating programming education from both pedagogical and technological perspectives.

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Authors

  • Jessica Pimentel Cantero

    Colombia

  • Eduardo José Daza Palencia

    Colombia

  • Liliana Esther Machuca Villegas

    Colombia

  • Oscar Fernando Bedoya Leiva

    Colombia

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