Serious games research shows that games can increase engagement and improve learning outcomes over traditional instruction, but the impact of specific elements of serious games has yet to be fully explored across many contexts. Additionally, many existing intervention studies omit the details of the game design and development theory that informed…

Histology is a preclinical subject transversal in medical, dental, and veterinary curricula. Classical teaching approaches in histology are often undermined by lower motivation and engagement of students, which may be addressed by innovative learning environments. Herein, we developed a serious game approach and compared it with a classical…

Even though game elements can increase motivation and engagement, they also might distract learners and thereby decrease performance and learning outcomes. In the current study, we investigated the effects of intrinsically integrated game elements on performance and learning outcomes. In a pre-post training study, 85 adult participants were…

In this study, a gamification process was implemented in an undergraduate course of Economics that consisted 397 students. The primary purpose of the research was to empirically validate the effects of gamification in terms of the variables of engagement, motivation, entertainment, perceived relevance of the course, knowledge increase and…

This study investigates the effect of interactive games on improving reading comprehension skills and attitudes toward games among Iranian learners of English as a foreign language. In this quantitative study, the participants in the control group received reading comprehension instruction through traditional models of teaching reading while the…

Computational thinking (CT) has become an important skill for the new generation, and CT teaching games have been introduced to lower the barriers that novices face in learning programming. However, despite the prevalence of and demand for these games, little is known about the effectiveness of their design or about the principles that are…

The use of game in education has been evidenced to improve students' engagement in learning. However, much research shows that the use of game in learning is only effective for high school students, while its use for students of higher education is limited. Research on game in education has predominantly been occupied by Kahoot! while Quizizz has…

Gamification--the use of game elements in serious contexts, has been prevalent to enhance users' motivation and engagement in difficult activities. In the literature related to higher education, the use of gamification has emerged as a new pedagogical approach in order to improve students' learning behaviors. On the other hand, traditional…

The study aims to examine student emotions and behavior in a Gamified Learning Environment (GLE) in detail. In the study, in order to reveal the behavior (dynamics) and feelings (emotions) that emerge within the framework of the mechanics applied in the GLE process, it is within the scope of the main objectives of the study to determine how…

Over the past decade, research has stressed the necessity of increasing ocean teaching in formal and informal education by addressing ocean literacy dimensions. Although board games have emerged as an affordable and accessible option for immersive learning experiences, limited empirical evidence demonstrates their effectiveness in enhancing…

Background: Adopting healthy weight-related behaviours in emerging adulthood has long-term health benefits. Digital interventions using game-elements have the potential to improve diet and physical activity outcomes. Universities are influential settings in shifting emerging adults' behaviour and can deliver health-promoting interventions to young…

There is growing support to the argument that effective use of technology in blended learning initiatives, such as gamification, can influence student retention and combat low levels of student engagement as well as improve academic performance. The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of a gamified mobile application (GMA)…

Gamification is an educational strategy that makes learning fun and keeps students interested in learning, which helps them learn more and grow their knowledge. However, given its growing popularity, it is necessary to review empirical studies regarding gamification in education as an intervention for an effective teaching and learning process.…

English grammar proficiency is essential for all teachers, especially English teachers, to be able to effectively deliver lessons. Yet, many still struggle with constructing grammatically correct sentences. Thus, this action-research investigated the effectiveness of a gamified approach, the Language Ladder Quest, in improving grammar proficiency…

As computer games become integral to students' learning experiences, this dissertation investigates the impact of educational game-based learning on mathematical outcomes and attitudes among elementary school students. Employing data science techniques, including statistical approaches and quantitative analysis through data mining of gameplay data…