Aplicación móvil como estrategia de gamificación en la asignatura de ciencias naturales en los estudiantes de sexto año de EGB

Abstract

Currently, education is taking great changes that are of great importance for the strengthening of educational processes, one of them and more relevant is the use of technology or better known as TIC (Information and Communication Technologies), which has been in constant evolution in terms of improving learning environments. In education, it has become important to introduce digital or technological means that ensure effective interaction in the classroom. Because today's teachers and students cannot communicate comfortably, this prevents the learning process from being meaningful and effective. Teachers are forced to use traditional strategies and students just listen to the information and do not think about modern social problems. For this reason, the use of TIC in teaching processes has become a path to follow that definitely brings with it a series of factors that positively alter said processes, and not serving as a means of distraction or a "loss of time” in the classroom, but as a support resource for teachers and students in the acquisition of knowledge related to the contents that can be seen during classes. For the aforementioned reasons, this research aims to improve the educational processes of the natural sciences subject through a mobile gamification application for sixth-year EGB students of the School of Basic Education "Dr. Eulogio Serrano Armijos”. Our objective through this study is to be able to strengthen the teaching-learning process through educational games, inferring in the students characteristics such as motivation and active participation during the presentation of class topics. As is known, the subject of natural sciences is important in basic education, because science gives us the opportunity to understand how the universe and the world around us work. By solving specific tasks, teachers contribute to the formation of logical thinking in students, improving their quality of life, preparing for future integration with the world of science and technology; in addition to supporting the intellectual development of children. To make this work possible, we resort to different sources, methods and instruments to achieve results that are favorable for that area, and thus, manage to cover the needs found in the community that we took as a study. Therefore, instruments such as observation and surveys were used to identify these problems; In addition to making use of the methodology that combines the qualitative and quantitative approach for the collection of data that we want to analyze and obtain resolution of those factors that reduce the academic performance of the students. In order to develop this mobile application, the ADDIE model (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation and Evaluation) was used to create learning experiences that promote the development of skills and knowledge through this technological resource, establishing clear learning objectives; energizing activities that are important to students, carefully structuring content and organizing teachers' work. To conclude, during experiences I and II it was shown that the "LeoPlant" mobile application had great acceptance for both the teacher and the students, and it was determined that, in effect, the correct and adequate use of technological resources in the explanation of content achieves a significant change in the teaching-learning process. Thanks to the presence of the “LeoPlant” mobile application, an interactive environment was created, keeping students motivated all the time to want to learn more about the subject and to want to act actively during the presented educational games.