This thesis investigates students? perceptions about their workload and their approaches to learning, employing a regional polytechnic as a case study. Data was collected using a mixed methods approach. The convenience sample consisted of 269 full-time undergraduate students who completed a questionnaire indicating whether they perceived the workload to be heavy or unmanageable at times, and those who did specified the reasons for their perceptions. All respondents also completed a modified ASSIST instrument to indicate the approach to learning they adopted. Analysis of the questionnaire data indicated that the majority of students perceived their workload to be heavy or unmanageable at times with the main reason given as too many assessments due around the same time. The issues raised from the data confirmed the results of other studies and pointed to a range of issues both internal and external to the institution. Thirty follow-up interviews were conducted to further investigate the issues raised in the questionnaire. A complex picture emerged from the interview data of a number of inter-related aspects in the teaching-learning environment that impacted on perceived workload and approach to learning, including assessment and overloaded curricula, motivation, time management problems resulting from part-time jobs or family commitments, and lecturer support. Trends or patterns signalled by the data provided an important first step to assist in planning changes in the teaching-learning environment at the regional polytechnic. The main recommendations were centred on a long term, collaborative action-research project to be set up within a programme, to review curricula, create a more stimulating and responsive teaching-learning environment, foster learning communities, and ensure a consistent approach to developing generic skills. The aim of the recommendations was to ensure students are motivated to learn, engaged, and have the skills and information needed to be effective learners, which in turn has the potential to change perception of workload and impact on approach to learning.

Submitted by Maike Costa (maiksebas@gmail.com) on 2016-02-26T13:57:29Z No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1999784 bytes, checksum: 8a1cf9c6d932d467d432ab43b8a328c6 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maike Costa (maiksebas@gmail.com) on 2016-02-26T13:59:52Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1999784 bytes, checksum: 8a1cf9c6d932d467d432ab43b8a328c6 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maike Costa (maiksebas@gmail.com) on 2016-02-26T14:00:58Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1999784 bytes, checksum: 8a1cf9c6d932d467d432ab43b8a328c6 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-01T10:23:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1999784 bytes, checksum: 8a1cf9c6d932d467d432ab43b8a328c6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-09-28 / This study had as objective to analyze the dimensions of the teaching learning environment in Administration in the Northeast of Brazil in the administrator formation process. To achieve this purpose, the following specific objectives were established: a) identify the historical trajectory Administration undergraduate teaching northeastern Brazil from the reporting teachers who participated in the creation process of these courses; b) to characterize the dimensions of the administrator formation of the learning environment; c) discuss the influences on education in Business Administration in the Northeast from the learning environment dimensions; d) Propose guidelines for regionalized training administrator. Therefore, it approached the context of formation of administrators in the Northeast. Then, there was a historical Administration in undergraduate education in the Northeast, emphasizing adherence to teaching models for American business and developmental perspective. Still, there is a curriculum of courses in the region and discusses the dimensions of the learning environment, highlighting the following: historical-political, structural and institutional, cultural, social and technological-virtual. It also discusses the significance of the agents involved in promoting a qualified education, namely students, teachers, managers and practical, beyond the important role of government, universities and other institutions. The participants were nine teachers involved with the creation and development of the Administration course in the region. The interviews were transcribed and coded, and subsidize the categorization of discourse divided in the first three dimensions presented. The review process was guided by the interpretative paradigm and adopted a qualitative approach, since the theme of the discussion was built from the reports of interviewed teachers, of which emerged categories that relate to each other through the dimensions focused at work. The results showed that the dimensions of the learning environment effectively play a leading role in teaching Administration. The current situation results from a historical trajectory, permeated by conflicts and political interests, not only at national, but also regional or universities. The physical structure and institutional support to the promotion of a qualified education are among the most prominent factors in qualified training. Still, the cultural and social perspective impacts on the quality of education in Administration, where it is, the knowledge about the peculiarities of the regional context. The use of technological resources can assist the process of teaching and learning, if used taking into account the suitability to the conditions available and own use by organizational forms in the region. The identity of the course, teaching, and administrator still is pervasive not only internally, but also to society at large, necessitating an effective action of the Federal and Regional Councils and for the regulation and delimitation administrator characteristic professional context. In this sense, this thesis proposes some guidelines contextual, culminating in actions that can facilitate teaching in Management through a more regional training from the dimensions of the local learning environment. Finally, it is concluded that a regionalized training is in an alternative to promote closer ties between teaching and learning environment in order to align themselves with the possibilities of professional experience in management in the Northeast. / Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar as dimensões do ambiente de aprendizagem do ensino em Administração na região Nordeste do Brasil no processo de formação do administrador. Para alcançar este propósito, foram estabelecidos os seguintes objetivos específicos: a) identificar a trajetória histórica do ensino de graduação em Administração do Nordeste brasileiro a partir do relato de professores que participaram do processo de criação desses cursos; b) caracterizar as dimensões do ambiente de aprendizagem da formação do administrador; c) discutir as influências no ensino em Administração no Nordeste a partir das dimensões do ambiente de aprendizagem; d) propor diretrizes para a formação regionalizada do administrador. Para tanto, abordou-se o contexto da formação de administradores no Nordeste. Em seguida, realizou-se um resgate histórico do ensino de graduação em Administração no Nordeste, destacando a adesão a modelos de ensino for business norte-americanos e à perspectiva desenvolvimentista. Ainda, observa-se a estrutura curricular dos cursos na região e discutem-se as dimensões do ambiente de aprendizagem, destacando-se as seguintes: histórico-política, estrutural-institucional, cultural-social e tecnológico-virtual. Aborda-se também a relevância dos agentes envolvidos no fomento de uma formação qualificada, quais sejam alunos, professores, gestores e práticos, além da atuação importante do Governo, das universidades e de outras instituições. Participaram da pesquisa nove docentes envolvidos com a criação e o desenvolvimento do curso de Administração na região. As entrevistas foram transcritas e codificadas, além de subsidiarem a categorização dos discursos divididos nas três primeiras dimensões apresentadas. O processo de análise orientou-se pelo paradigma interpretativo e adotou uma abordagem qualitativa, uma vez que a discussão da temática foi construída a partir dos relatos dos docentes entrevistados, dos quais emergiram categorias que se relacionam entre si por meio das dimensões enfocadas no trabalho. Os resultados revelaram que as dimensões do ambiente de aprendizagem efetivamente exercem um papel preponderante no ensino em Administração. O panorama atual resulta de uma trajetória histórica, permeada por conflitos e interesses políticos, não só em nível nacional, como também regional ou nas universidades. A estrutura física e o apoio institucional ao fomento de um ensino qualificado estão dentre os fatores mais proeminentes na formação qualificada. Ainda, a perspectiva cultural e social impacta na qualidade do ensino em Administração, em que se torna salutar o conhecimento sobre as peculiaridades do contexto regional. O uso de recursos tecnológicos pode auxiliar o processo de ensino-aprendizagem, desde que utilizados levando-se em conta à adequação às condições disponíveis e à própria utilização pelas formas organizacionais existentes na região. A identidade do curso, do ensino, e do administrador ainda encontra-se difusa não só internamente, como também para a sociedade em geral, necessitando-se uma atuação efetiva dos Conselhos Regionais e Federal para a regulamentação e delimitação do âmbito profissional característico do administrador. Nesse sentido, esta tese propõe algumas diretrizes contextuais, culminando em ações que podem viabilizar um ensino em Administração por meio de uma formação mais regional a partir das dimensões do ambiente de aprendizagem local. Por fim, conclui-se que uma formação regionalizada constitui-se em uma alternativa para promover a aproximação entre ensino e ambiente de aprendizagem de maneira a alinhar-se com as possibilidades de atuação profissional em Administração no Nordeste.

There are various factors that accounting educators should consider when involved in accounting education. These include: A continuous changing business environment; A new generation of learners studying at universities; A lack of skills among learners; Accounting educators resisting changes in accounting education; and The requirements for continuing professional education. From the literature it seems that much research has been done in the field of accounting education, but that it did not find practical application in the classroom. It is therefore necessary to think creatively in order to find practical solutions for the challenges facing both lecturers and facilitators. In the study the following elements of the teaching-learning environment were identified: Learners; The lecturer/facilitator; The milieu; The subject content (including technical content and competencies); and the Teaching methodology. Each of these elements were investigated during the research in order to identify factors from literature that could be included in an improved teaching plan. As part of the plan (methodology) a board game "Commercium™" was developed to meet the requirements of the teaching-learning environment. The board game was evaluated by first year learners at the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University. The evaluation proved to be very positive. The learners indicated that technical skills, understanding of the roles of the accountant, soft skills as well as knowledge of the subject content improved as a result. What should especially be noted is their positive reaction due to the fact that the game simulated the business environment and linked theory to practice. They also enjoyed the social and group work aspects of the assignment. The learners further had a general positive attitude towards the game. The highest evaluated positive experiences were described as good, exciting and fresh. On the negative side words such as unhappy, uncomfortable and tensed were recorded. The learners were thus required to move outside their comfort zones. Learners were also required to summarise the project in one word. Two thirds of the remarks were positive, with the number one remark being the word "interesting". The largest negative comment was that the project was confusing at the start. This could, however, be addressed in future projects. In conclusion it can thus be said the Commercium™ game meets the requirements of an effective teaching-learning environment by providing an effective teaching methodology. Lecturers now have an empirically proven effective teaching tool for introductory accounting, based on research of the requirements of the teaching-learning environment. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Accounting))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

There are various factors that accounting educators should consider when involved in accounting education. These include: A continuous changing business environment; A new generation of learners studying at universities; A lack of skills among learners; Accounting educators resisting changes in accounting education; and The requirements for continuing professional education. From the literature it seems that much research has been done in the field of accounting education, but that it did not find practical application in the classroom. It is therefore necessary to think creatively in order to find practical solutions for the challenges facing both lecturers and facilitators. In the study the following elements of the teaching-learning environment were identified: Learners; The lecturer/facilitator; The milieu; The subject content (including technical content and competencies); and the Teaching methodology. Each of these elements were investigated during the research in order to identify factors from literature that could be included in an improved teaching plan. As part of the plan (methodology) a board game "Commercium™" was developed to meet the requirements of the teaching-learning environment. The board game was evaluated by first year learners at the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University. The evaluation proved to be very positive. The learners indicated that technical skills, understanding of the roles of the accountant, soft skills as well as knowledge of the subject content improved as a result. What should especially be noted is their positive reaction due to the fact that the game simulated the business environment and linked theory to practice. They also enjoyed the social and group work aspects of the assignment. The learners further had a general positive attitude towards the game. The highest evaluated positive experiences were described as good, exciting and fresh. On the negative side words such as unhappy, uncomfortable and tensed were recorded. The learners were thus required to move outside their comfort zones. Learners were also required to summarise the project in one word. Two thirds of the remarks were positive, with the number one remark being the word "interesting". The largest negative comment was that the project was confusing at the start. This could, however, be addressed in future projects. In conclusion it can thus be said the Commercium™ game meets the requirements of an effective teaching-learning environment by providing an effective teaching methodology. Lecturers now have an empirically proven effective teaching tool for introductory accounting, based on research of the requirements of the teaching-learning environment. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Accounting))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Submitted by CARLA MARIA GOULART DE MORAES (carlagm) on 2015-06-25T14:00:14Z No. of bitstreams: 1 IlzaRodriguesJardim.pdf: 1092179 bytes, checksum: cfb19e5173e7ed852bf4d8810cba1503 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-06-25T14:00:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 IlzaRodriguesJardim.pdf: 1092179 bytes, checksum: cfb19e5173e7ed852bf4d8810cba1503 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Nenhuma / A tese tem como tema compreender o agir pedagógico do aluno de Licenciatura em Matemática da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul nos Cursos Pré-vestibular Populares (CPVP), lugar de formação e início da experiência docente o qual junta-se à formação em desenvolvimento na graduação. Através deste, objetiva-se interpretar o dizer dos professores, os enunciados pedagógicos, tendo como recurso para tal seis intenções de enunciação, que acercam o enunciado pedagógico do professor. Compreender as intenções de enunciação como estratégias de interação para o ensinar e aprender, e que, por meio destas, o professor e o aluno excursionam entre os saberes e criam um lugar na sala de aula, lugar este no qual constatei, a partir dos episódios pedagógicos dos professores Saturno, Sol e Netuno, que o aluno concorda, indaga e questiona. E nesta perspectiva, o enunciado pedagógico é uma soma de fatos enunciativos provocada pelo ir e vir no qual os protagonistas participam como falantes e ouvintes. Como instrumento de coleta de informações, foram realizadas entrevistas com coordenadores de cursos CPVP e com seus professores para que se pudesse conhecer suas trajetórias de formação na educação básica; gravações das suas aulas em DVD e transcrições dos áudios (das aulas). Para tanto, os teóricos de referência são Benveniste, na Teoria da Enunciação, Gadamer e sua produção sobre compreensão e linguagem, e Cunha, com seus entendimentos acerca do professor e sua formação. / The theme of this thesis is to understand the pedagogical practice of Mathematics Degree students at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, their teaching-learning environment, and the beginning of their teaching carrier in Popular Preparation Courses for the entrance examinations in universities (CPVP) along with the development of their graduation course. We aim to interpret their discourse and pedagogical utterances relying on six intents of elocution which are embraced by the teacher’s pedagogical enunciations. Understanding the intentions of the enunciations as interaction strategies to teach and learn so teacher and student explore knowledge and design a space in the classroom, in which I’ve realized, from the Saturno, Sol, and Netuno events, that the student agrees, queries, and inter rogates. From this perspective, the pedagogical enunciation is the addition of enunciative facts stimulated by the turn-taking in which the protagonists take part as speakers and listeners. Interviews with the popular courses coordinators and their teaching staff are the instruments for the data collection, being able to learn about their background and development in their basic education. Class video recording and their audio transcriptions are also instruments for data collection. The theoretical foundations are based upon the works of Benveniste, on the Enunciation Theory, Gadamer and his works on comprehension and language, and Cunha, with her understanding about teachers and their training.

This study focuses in the students’ perception of self-regulation in learning as influenced by the teaching-learning-environment. The study was conducted at the University of Pretoria. The participants in the study were first year students registered for a second semester module in Educational Psychology in the faculty of education. The size of the sample was nine (22,5%) male students and 31 (77,5%) female students. At the time of participation, the participants had attended university for a period of at least six months and had written tests and one examination. The Interactive Qualitative Analysis (IQA) method as described by Northcutt and McCoy (2004) was used to elicit participants’ knowledge and experiences of the research phenomenon. The participants were expected to complete an instrument that required them to indicate the direction of three relationships between all combinations of the themes which were selected on the basis of literature review. The participants were required to indicate how they perceive the nature of relationships between themes that were developed by the researcher as associated with self-regulated learning in a system of cause and effect. The main findings of the study indicate that language of instruction and student personality are primary drivers that determine the academic success of the students. The two themes exert great influence on other themes that are involved in the teaching-learning environment. Academic success emerged as primary outcome which means that it is a theme that depends to a large extent on how the other themes that exist in the teaching-learning environment are structured. The findings of the study indicate that there is no significant difference that exists in the male and female participants’ perception of the factors that influence self-regulation in learning. In both sample primary drivers were language of instruction and students’ personality and the primary outcome was academic success. / Dissertation (MEd (Educational Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Educational Psychology / unrestricted

Accounting education, and specifically audit education, has been calling for change in the teaching methodology applied by audit lecturers in higher education since the 1950s. This call for change is evident in current literature, which indicates that the approach followed in audit education has been creating a knowledge-to-application barrier. Despite the vigorous research on how to change the way audit students are taught at universities and other higher education institutions, consensus has yet to be reached on the teaching methodology that would produce competent and self-efficient young professionals entering practice after graduation. The literature review performed in this thesis indicated a gap between research and practice in accounting education and research, first, because the research seems too technical for practitioners to understand and, secondly, too many research objectives seem unrelated to the realities of practice. Based on these findings, this thesis provides the novice researcher in accounting education with some guidelines on the research methodologies that could be applied in this field. It also highlights some best practices that should be followed when conducting research in this field. It was noted from the literature that all the variables in the audit teaching-learning environment need consideration when attempting to bring change to this environment, because each variable would have an impact on transforming the current approach followed in audit pedagogy. These variables were identified as: • The audit lecturer; • The audit student; • The subject content of the audit teaching-learning environment; and Summary • The milieu of the audit teaching-learning environment. In an attempt to answer the call for change in audit education, this thesis sought to develop an audit simulation as an educational tool which takes into account all the variables in the audit teaching-learning environment and can be applied at universities and other audit training institutions around the globe. A framework for simulation design was developed based on the findings of the literature review and informed the development of the audit simulation. The simulation was, subsequently, applied and evaluated at a university accredited by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants. The newly developed audit simulation was evaluated by applying a mixed methodology research design, which had been proven to be a resourceful and trusted design in accounting education research in the past. Pre-test and post-test questionnaires were administered to the respondents as part of a quasi-experimental design. The quantitative findings from these tests were supported by qualitative findings from focus group discussions. The empirical findings from the pre-test questionnaire confirmed the call for change and the room for improvement in the current teaching methodology in the audit classroom. Participants indicated lower levels in some competencies relative to other competencies, which also did not particularly score satisfactory when the competence levels were evaluated. The competencies that showed the lowest level of achievement due to the current teaching methodology, as perceived by the participants, included executing the work plan, evaluating the evidence and drawing conclusions, and drafting the report upon completion of the engagement. It was also established that the call for change was not confined to only one university in South Africa, which broadened the generalisability of the research findings, conclusions and recommendations of this study. The results of both the quantitative and qualitative analysis support the view that the newly developed audit simulation is able to assist in bringing change to audit education. The simulation had a positive effect on the audit students’ perceived competence levels in the competencies of auditing and assurance, and the various generic and pervasive skills tested in this study. Furthermore, it was established that the audit simulation had a greater effect on the audit students’ perceived broad competence levels (i.e. auditing and assurance, and generic and pervasive skills) and their understanding of the audit process as a whole, in relation to just attending normal lectures. The qualitative findings from the focus group discussions informed the quantitative findings by indicating that the audit simulation proved to be an instrument that, among other things: Summary • Gave students the opportunity to obtain a holistic view of the audit process; • Assisted students in visualising how the audit theory is applied in practice; • Actively involved the students in the learning process; and • Replicated audit practice. Finally, it was confirmed that the newly developed audit simulation takes into account the variables in the audit teaching-learning environment which need consideration if transformation is to take place in the way the audit subject is currently being taught at higher education level. Recommendations on the way forward in audit education, based on the findings in this thesis, were also provided. This study provides audit lecturers and other audit educators around the world with a newly developed, empirically evaluated audit simulation which can be applied in the audit classroom as well as assist in answering the current call for change to audit education. / PhD (Accountancy), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Accounting education, and specifically audit education, has been calling for change in the teaching methodology applied by audit lecturers in higher education since the 1950s. This call for change is evident in current literature, which indicates that the approach followed in audit education has been creating a knowledge-to-application barrier. Despite the vigorous research on how to change the way audit students are taught at universities and other higher education institutions, consensus has yet to be reached on the teaching methodology that would produce competent and self-efficient young professionals entering practice after graduation. The literature review performed in this thesis indicated a gap between research and practice in accounting education and research, first, because the research seems too technical for practitioners to understand and, secondly, too many research objectives seem unrelated to the realities of practice. Based on these findings, this thesis provides the novice researcher in accounting education with some guidelines on the research methodologies that could be applied in this field. It also highlights some best practices that should be followed when conducting research in this field. It was noted from the literature that all the variables in the audit teaching-learning environment need consideration when attempting to bring change to this environment, because each variable would have an impact on transforming the current approach followed in audit pedagogy. These variables were identified as: • The audit lecturer; • The audit student; • The subject content of the audit teaching-learning environment; and Summary • The milieu of the audit teaching-learning environment. In an attempt to answer the call for change in audit education, this thesis sought to develop an audit simulation as an educational tool which takes into account all the variables in the audit teaching-learning environment and can be applied at universities and other audit training institutions around the globe. A framework for simulation design was developed based on the findings of the literature review and informed the development of the audit simulation. The simulation was, subsequently, applied and evaluated at a university accredited by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants. The newly developed audit simulation was evaluated by applying a mixed methodology research design, which had been proven to be a resourceful and trusted design in accounting education research in the past. Pre-test and post-test questionnaires were administered to the respondents as part of a quasi-experimental design. The quantitative findings from these tests were supported by qualitative findings from focus group discussions. The empirical findings from the pre-test questionnaire confirmed the call for change and the room for improvement in the current teaching methodology in the audit classroom. Participants indicated lower levels in some competencies relative to other competencies, which also did not particularly score satisfactory when the competence levels were evaluated. The competencies that showed the lowest level of achievement due to the current teaching methodology, as perceived by the participants, included executing the work plan, evaluating the evidence and drawing conclusions, and drafting the report upon completion of the engagement. It was also established that the call for change was not confined to only one university in South Africa, which broadened the generalisability of the research findings, conclusions and recommendations of this study. The results of both the quantitative and qualitative analysis support the view that the newly developed audit simulation is able to assist in bringing change to audit education. The simulation had a positive effect on the audit students’ perceived competence levels in the competencies of auditing and assurance, and the various generic and pervasive skills tested in this study. Furthermore, it was established that the audit simulation had a greater effect on the audit students’ perceived broad competence levels (i.e. auditing and assurance, and generic and pervasive skills) and their understanding of the audit process as a whole, in relation to just attending normal lectures. The qualitative findings from the focus group discussions informed the quantitative findings by indicating that the audit simulation proved to be an instrument that, among other things: Summary • Gave students the opportunity to obtain a holistic view of the audit process; • Assisted students in visualising how the audit theory is applied in practice; • Actively involved the students in the learning process; and • Replicated audit practice. Finally, it was confirmed that the newly developed audit simulation takes into account the variables in the audit teaching-learning environment which need consideration if transformation is to take place in the way the audit subject is currently being taught at higher education level. Recommendations on the way forward in audit education, based on the findings in this thesis, were also provided. This study provides audit lecturers and other audit educators around the world with a newly developed, empirically evaluated audit simulation which can be applied in the audit classroom as well as assist in answering the current call for change to audit education. / PhD (Accountancy), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Das Thema Information Retrieval hat insbesondere in Form von Internetsuchmaschinen eine große Bedeutung erlangt. Retrievalsysteme werden für eine Vielzahl unterschiedlicher Rechercheszenarien eingesetzt, unter anderem für firmeninterne Supportdatenbanken, aber auch für die Organisation persönlicher E-Mails. Eine aktuelle Herausforderung besteht in der Bestimmung und Vorhersage der Leistungsfähigkeit einzelner Komponenten dieser Retrievalsysteme, insbesondere der komplexen Wechselwirkungen zwischen ihnen. Für die Implementierung und Konfiguration der Retrievalsysteme und der Retrievalkomponenten werden Fachleute benötigt. Mithilfe der webbasierten Lernanwendung Xtrieval Web Lab können Studierende praktisches Wissen über den Information Retrieval Prozess erwerben, indem sie Retrievalkomponenten zu einem Retrievalsystem zusammenstellen und evaluieren, ohne dafür eine Programmiersprache einsetzen zu müssen. Spielemechaniken leiten die Studierenden bei ihrem Entdeckungsprozess an, motivieren sie und verhindern eine Informationsüberladung durch eine Aufteilung der Lerninhalte. / Information retrieval has achieved great significance in form of search engines for the Internet. Retrieval systems are used in a variety of research scenarios, including corporate support databases, but also for the organization of personal emails. A current challenge is to determine and predict the performance of individual components of these retrieval systems, in particular the complex interactions between them. For the implementation and configuration of retrieval systems and retrieval components professionals are needed. By using the web-based learning application Xtrieval Web Lab students can gain practical knowledge about the information retrieval process by arranging retrieval components in a retrieval system and their evaluation without using a programming language. Game mechanics guide the students in their discovery process, motivate them and prevent information overload by a partition of the learning content.