gamificación como estrategia metodológica para refuerzo académico en ciencias naturales en la escuela de educación básica "psd.t. jaime roldós aguilera

Abstract

This study addresses the implementation of gamification strategies as an academic reinforcement tool in the subject of Natural Sciences for fifth grade students of basic education. The research was carried out at the "Pdte. Jaime Roldós Aguilera" Basic Education School in Machala-Ecuador, with the aim of improving the academic performance and motivation of students through the use of digital playful activities. The project arises from the need to address the lack of interactive activities in the teaching of Natural Sciences which results in demotivation and low academic performance among students. The methodology employed followed a mixed approach (quali-quantitative), combining theoretical and empirical methods to collect and analyze data. The ADDIE model (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation and Evaluation) was used to structure the development of the gamification prototype. The prototype was created using various digital tools including Wix to host a central website, Genially for interactive presentations, Wordwall for educational games and Socrative for gamified assessments. These tools were integrated to create an interactive and engaging learning environment that addressed the key Natural Science topics of the fifth grade curriculum. The implementation of the prototype took place in two main phases. In the first phase, the prototype was presented to the Natural Science teacher who evaluated its potential and applicability in the classroom. The second phase directly involved the students who interacted with the prototype in the school's computer lab. The results of the research were promising. The teacher expressed a positive opinion about the integration of digital tools in the teaching-learning process, highlighting their potential to make classes more didactic and engaging for students. The students, for their part, showed a high level of acceptance and enthusiasm towards the gamified activities and reported an improvement in their understanding of class topics with an increase in their motivation to participate in the learning activities. Most students found the tools easy to use and expressed a preference for a learning approach that combines traditional methods with interactive digital activities. The findings of the study suggested that implementing gamification strategies in Natural Sciences teaching can have a significant positive impact on students' engagement and understanding of the content as the integration of playful and technological elements into the learning process proved to be effective in capturing students' interest and promoting more dynamic and interactive learning. Furthermore, the study revealed that the use of gamified activities can be a valuable tool for academic reinforcement as it allows students to consolidate their knowledge in a more engaging and effective way. Recommendations derived from this research include expanding the prototype content to cover more units of the Natural Sciences curriculum, implementing a more detailed feedback system for students, and developing more robust monitoring tools so that teachers can more accurately track students' progress.