Game-Based Learning in Secondary Education: an analysis of the students’ perceptions about traditional and ICT-based games in the EFL classroom

Abstract

Game-Based Learning focusses on getting people to learn about a certain subject or getting a certain skill by means of playing (García et al., 2008). This paper introduces a traditional game such as a cards game and an ICT-based game such as Kahoot! into a 21 students’ classroom in a 3rd year of Secondary Education. The study aims to investigate the students’ perceptions about a traditional game and a more interactive game introducing the ICTs in the classroom. Two identical qualitative questionnaires were devised in order to collect the data about the students’ perceptions on both games. The parameters rated in those questionnaires are satisfaction, motivation, engagement, difficulty and learning usefulness. Results show the efficacy of introducing games in general into the routine classroom practices with a little leaning in favour of the ICTbased game, and call for further research with other types of students in regard to other academic and educational contexts and with different levels of English.