Abstract
This paper introduces GERF, a Gamified Educational Virtual Escape Room Framework designed to enhance micro-learning and adaptive learning experiences in educational settings. The framework incorporates a user taxonomy based on the user type hexad, addressing the preferences and motivations of different learners profiles. GERF focuses on two key facets: interoperability and analytics. To ensure seamless integration of Escape Room (ER) platforms with Learning Management Systems (LMS), the Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) specification is used. This enables smooth and efficient communication between ERs and LMS platforms. Additionally, GERF uses the xAPI specification to capture and transmit experiential data in the form of xAPI statements, which are then sent to a Learning Record Store (LRS). By leveraging these learning analytics, educators gain valuable insights into students’ interactions within the ER, facilitating the adaptation of learning content based on individual learning needs. Ultimately, GERF empowers educators to create personalized learning experiences within the ER environment, fostering student engagement and learning outcomes. © 2024, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Abstract
This paper is poised to inform educators, policy makers and software developers about the untapped potential of PWAs in creating engaging, effective, and personalized learning experiences in the field of programming education. We aim to address a significant gap in the current understanding of the potential advantages and underutilisation of Progressive Web Applications (PWAs) within the education sector, specifically for programming education. Despite the evident lack of recognition of PWAs in this arena, we present an innovative approach through the Framework for Gamification in Programming Education (FGPE). This framework takes advantage of the ubiquity and ease of use of PWAs, integrating it with a Pareto optimized gamified programming exercise selection model ensuring personalized adaptive learning experiences by dynamically adjusting the complexity, content, and feedback of gamified exercises in response to the learners' ongoing progress and performance. This study examines the mobile user experience of the FGPE PLE in different countries, namely Poland and Lithuania, providing novel insights into its applicability and efficiency. Our results demonstrate that combining advanced adaptive algorithms with the convenience of mobile technology has the potential to revolutionize programming education. The FGPE+ course group outperformed the Moodle group in terms of the average perceived knowledge (M = 4.11, SD = 0.51).

Abstract
As gamification spreads to new areas, new applications are being developed and the interest in evaluating gamified systems continues to grow. To date, however, no one has comprehensively approached this topic: multiple evaluation dimensions and measures have been proposed and applied without any effort to organize them into a full gamut of tools for the multi-dimensional evaluation of gamified systems. This paper addresses this gap by proposing GATUGU, a set of six perspectives of evaluation of gamified systems: General effects of gamification, Area-specific effects of gamification, Technical quality of gamified systems, Use of gamified systems, Gamefulness of gamified systems, and User experience of gamified systems. For each perspective, GATUGU indicates the relevant dimensions of evaluation, and, for each dimension, one measure is suggested. GATUGU does not introduce any new measurement tools but merely recommends one of the available tools for each dimension, considering their popularity and ease of use. GATUGU can guide researchers in selecting gamification system evaluation perspectives and dimensions and in finding adequate measurement tools. Thanks to conforming to GATUGU, the published gamification system evaluation results will become easier to compare and to perform various kinds of meta-analyses on them.

Abstract
Web programming education is an important component of modern computer science curricula. Assessing students’ web programming skills can be time-consuming and challenging for educators. This paper introduces Webpal, an automated assessment tool for web programming exercises in entry-level courses. Webpal evaluates web applications coded in HTML, CSS, and Javascript, and provides feedback to students. This tool integrates with Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs) through an API, allowing the creation, storage, and access to exercises while assessing student attempts based on the created exercises. The evaluation process comprises various subcomponents: static assessment, interface matching, functional testing, and feedback management. This approach aims to provide feedback that helps students overcome their challenges in web programming assignments. This paper also presents a demo showcasing the tool’s features and functionality in a simulated VLE environment. © Luís Maia Costa, José Paulo Leal, and Ricardo Queirós; licensed under Creative Commons License CC-BY 4.0.

Abstract
The paper discusses an ongoing project that aims to enhance the UX of teachers while using e-learning systems. Specifically, the project focuses on developing the teacher’s user interface (UI) for Agni, a web-based code playground for learning JavaScript. The goal is to design an intuitive UI with valuable features that will encourage more teachers to use the system. To achieve this goal, the paper explores the use of a headless Content Management System (CMS) called Strapi. The primary research question the paper seeks to answer is whether a headless CMS, specifically Strapi, can provide a good UX to teachers. A usability evaluation of the built-in Strapi UI for content creation and management reveals it to be generally consistent and user-friendly but challenging and unintuitive to create courses with programming exercises. As a result, the decision was made to develop a new teacher’s UI based on the existing Agni UI for students in an editable version. Once the development is complete, a new usability evaluation of the fully developed teacher’s UI will be conducted with the Strapi UI evaluation as a baseline for comparison. © Yannik Bauer, José Paulo Leal, and Ricardo Queirós; licensed under Creative Commons License CC-BY 4.0.