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Mobile Game-Based Learning in Distance Education: A Mixed Analysis of Learners’ Emotions and Gaming Features

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Learning and Collaboration Technologies: Games and Virtual Environments for Learning (HCII 2021)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNISA,volume 12785))

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Abstract

Although there are multiple approaches for making lectures more interactive, Game-Based Learning (GBL) tends to achieve the highest impact on students’ emotional engagement. To this end, this study seeks to implement a mobile GBL approach in a Distance Education (DE) course to investigate the students’ gaming experience and learning related emotions. The experiment was conducted on 26 post-graduate distance students using a Kahoot! mobile game and a self-reported instrument. Quantitative analysis was implemented to measure the students’ perceived i) competence, ii) concentration and ii) immersion, and the learning related emotions of i) enjoyment, ii) boredom, iii) confusion, and iv) anxiety. Sentiment analysis revealed a highly positive emotional attitude towards mobile GBL in DE and highlighted the prevalent emotions of joy and competence. Thematic content analysis was applied to investigate the gaming features that caused negative or positive emotions. Time limit and music/sound were proved to cause negative emotions, while multimedia, colors, learnability, and sequencing were reported as positive emotional antecedes. Competition revealed mixed outcomes. Overall, this study provides with useful insights that can be used by educators and emotional designers to increase engagement and learning performance in DE.

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Change history

  • 03 July 2021

    The original version of chapter 8 was revised. The acknowledgements section was missing and has been added.

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Acknowledgements

This research is co-financed by Greece and the European Union (European Social Fund- ESF) through the Operational Programme «Human Resources Development, Education and Lifelong Learning» in the context of the project “Reinforcement of Postdoctoral Researchers - 2 nd Cycle” (MIS-5033021), implemented by the State Scholarships Foundation (IKY).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Katerina Tzafilkou & Anastasios A. Economides

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  1. Katerina Tzafilkou
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  2. Anastasios A. Economides
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Correspondence to Katerina Tzafilkou .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Multimedia and Graphic Arts, Cyprus University of Technology, Lemesos, Cyprus

    Panayiotis Zaphiris

  2. Research Center on Interactive Media, Smart Systems and Emerging Technologies (CYENS), Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus

    Andri Ioannou

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Tzafilkou, K., Economides, A.A. (2021). Mobile Game-Based Learning in Distance Education: A Mixed Analysis of Learners’ Emotions and Gaming Features. In: Zaphiris, P., Ioannou, A. (eds) Learning and Collaboration Technologies: Games and Virtual Environments for Learning. HCII 2021. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 12785. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-77943-6_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-77943-6_8

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