Engaging Students in SQL Learning by Challenging Peer during the Pandemic

SQL has gained traction nowadays with an increasing number of students learning it to deal with databases. To help students learn SQL when COVID-19 swept the world with face-to-face teaching made unavailable, an online SQL Challenge Game was devised over concern that students might lose motivation to study after lectures. The SQL Challenge Game was aimed at engaging students in out-of-class learning activities and enhancing students' academic performance. This game platform is characterized by the availability of a challenge mode game, in which two players raced to answer questions of SQL. So far, we have not found such kind of SQL practice game with peer interaction and competition in other pieces of literature. This study inquired into which category of gamified learning activities, solo mode or challenge mode, was more appealing to students and helped them perform better academically. Daily attempt limits were in place to ensure students playing the SQL Game regularly after lectures. The results show a high participation rate from the students, and a strong correlation between SQL Challenge Game scores and the academic performance of the students concerned.