Study of the Influence of a Gamified Unit on Student's Motivation and Learning.

Abstract

Higher education students are requested to learn an extensive variety of contents and develop a series of skills based on curricular standards. These demands usually differ considerably with pupils’ interests. As scholars are heterogeneous in their process of learning-acquisition, educators need to develop a suitable method of instruction. In order to promote greater interest on the part of the students’ while meeting the content and skills needed, a gamified project regarding an English Didactics’ subject was devised. This project was developed with the participation of second-year students from the Degree in Primary Education at the University of Malaga. It concerns an experience carried out during the 2022/2023 academic year where scholars were required to gamify in groups different contents instructed in the subject “Fundamentos Teórico-Prácticos de la enseñanza de la Lengua Extranjera”. The students’ response of the above-mentioned project was examined using a survey that was elaborated ad hoc and validated by experts. One hundred and twenty scholars participated in the study. Results indicate great reception on the part of the participants, who consider this strategy to learning with new technologies as a creative as well as a motivating experience.