Daily Practice Quizathon for SQL Using Telegram

Consistent practice is crucial for students of online programming courses to master the syntax and semantics of a programming language. However, instructors face challenges with dropouts, less participation, engagement, and motivation. To address these issues, we designed a gamified SQL Quizathon, which leverages social media platform, Telegram, where a lot of students are already active. This study aimed to observe and understand, the behavior of online Bachelor of Science (BS) degree students, during the daily quiz-based practice sessions. Here, we conducted a 5-day Quizathon, on a private Telegram channel, releasing one SQL quiz on a daily basis. To enhance engagement, we shared a daily leaderboard of top performers and also sent reminders. We analyzed the trends in students’ quiz performances and completion times. The data was collected from QuizBot, and the survey feedback from students. Initially, 237 students expressed their interest by registering, but 122 actively participated in the Quizathon. Of these, 72 also completed the post-Quizathon survey wherein 56 students had attempted all the five quizzes. Analysis revealed distinct behavioral patterns: initial excitement, cautious mid-Quizathon attempts, and a drop in the completion time of final quiz. Quiz scores showed consistency in the first four quizzes but dropped in the fifth quiz. Completion times varied, with significant differences being observed. Survey results of (N = 56) students attempting a 5-day streak, i.e. daily participation, indicated positive responses towards the daily practice and leaderboard. Students found Quizathon to be engaging and reported that their SQL understanding had improved along with their self-confidence.