Abstract

A quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest, non-equivalent control group design was used to examine the effect of a mobile gamification application on third and fourth grade students' Spanish language achievement and student academic self-efficacy. In this study, the treatment group's Spanish language instruction was through the use of "Duolingo"®, a computer and mobile app that uses gamification and adaptive learning technology to teach foreign languages. Students in the control group received their regularly scheduled English L1/Spanish L2 class learning activities. The study was 12 weeks in duration. Students were assessed with a 50-question, multiple-choice English to Spanish and Spanish to English pretest covering vocabulary and grammar to control for prior Spanish language achievement. Students were assessed with the Pattern of Adaptive Learning Scales' (PALS) Academic Efficacy subscale to control for prior academic self-efficacy. The same two instruments were used as posttests. An analysis of covariance showed no significant difference in students' Spanish achievement or in academic self-efficacy between students who used "Duolingo"® and students who were taught with traditional face-to-face instruction. This demonstrates that "Duolingo"® is a useful tool for teaching Spanish to elementary students.

Citation

Rachels, J.R. & Rockinson-Szapkiw, A.J. (2018). The Effects of a Mobile Gamification App on Elementary Students' Spanish Achievement and Self-Efficacy. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 31(1), 72-89. Retrieved August 7, 2024 from https://www.learntechlib.org/p/188808/.

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Keywords

• Achievement Gains
• Comparative Analysis
• Computer Assisted Instruction
• computer games
• Computer Software
• Control Groups
• Elementary School Students
• Experimental Groups
• FLES
• Grade 3
• Grade 4
• Grammar
• Multiple Choice Tests
• Pretests Posttests
• Quasiexperimental Design
• Scaffolding (Teaching Technique)
• Second Language Instruction
• second language learning
• Self Efficacy
• Sociocultural Patterns
• Spanish
• Statistical Analysis
• Surveys
• teaching methods
• Telecommunications
• Vocabulary Development