Educational games as stand‐alone learning tools and their motivational effect on L 2 vocabulary acquisition and perceived learning gains
Abstract
Abstract According to different authors, computer games not only teach contents and skills, but also do so in a more efficient manner, allowing long‐lasting learning. However, there is still little consensus on this matter as different studies put their educational benefits into question, especially when used without instructional support. An empirical study was conducted to measure the effect of the educational game T he C onference I nterpreter on L 2 vocabulary acquisition and perceived learning gains, as compared with a non‐gaming tool which replicated its contents. The results of pre‐, post‐ and delayed tests showed that students that had access to the contents via the video game performed statistically better in the short run, found the materials more appealing and believed their vocabulary skills had developed further than those in the control group. However, the regression model showed that the actual enjoyment of the game seemed to have no effect on the students' learning outcomes, neither according to their own estimation nor as determined by testing. Of greater importance seemed to be extrinsic motivation, ie, their desire to play based upon expected learning gains, prior knowledge of tested L 2 vocabulary and perceived difficulty of the educational contents.
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Participants with high proficiency in English may benefit more from the learning affordances provided by digital-game based scenarios.
“This is also in line with previous research carried out by the researchers [76-79], which suggests that participants with high proficiency in English may benefit more from the learning affordances provided by digital-game based scenarios.”
From The Effect of Multiplayer Video Games on Incidental and Intentional L2 Vocabulary Learning: The Case of Among Us (2021) · cites this paper as [76]
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- Authors
- Calvo‐Ferrer, J. R.
- Affiliations
- University of Alicante (ES)
- Corresponding author
- Calvo‐Ferrer, José Ramón
- Venue
- British Journal of Educational Technology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2015-12-23
- Volume
- 48
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 264-278
- ISSN
- 0007-1013 (ISSN-L)
- 1467-8535
- OpenAlex
- W2214217453
- Cited by
- 120
- References
- 60
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 29 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 3
- FWCI
- 14.32
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- British Journal of Educational Technology (publishedVersion)
- RUA, Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Alicante (Universidad de Alicante) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Educational Games and Gamification
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Second Language Acquisition and Learning
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Language and Linguistics › EFL/ESL Teaching and Learning
- Keywords
- game-based learning, second language vocabulary acquisition, extrinsic motivation, perceived learning gains, video games, game enjoyment, delayed retention, perceived difficulty
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