Aplicación móvil educativa para la motivación en el aprendizaje de Ciencias Naturales en los estudiantes de tercer año de educación general básica

Abstract

This research aimed to evaluate the impact of using an educational mobile application on students' motivation in learning Natural Sciences. The study was conducted under a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative methods, and was framed within an educational intervention applied to fourth-year Basic General Education students at an urban educational institution. Data collection involved Likert-type surveys, semi-structured interviews, and direct classroom observation. The intervention consisted of the design and implementation of an interactive application with content aligned to the national curriculum, incorporating didactic strategies aimed at fostering curiosity, exploration, and immediate feedback. The application design was based on the ADDIE methodology, which structured the development into five phases: analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation. The application was developed using Kodular, a platform that facilitates visual programming and allows the integration of multimedia resources such as images, sounds, and audio. Based on these elements, interactive and intuitive activities were designed, adapted to the educational context. The results showed a significant improvement in students’ intrinsic motivation levels and active participation during Natural Sciences classes. Additionally, an increase was observed in learning autonomy and interest in scientific content. It is concluded that the use of educational mobile applications in the classroom may constitute an effective resource to strengthen motivation in the teaching process and generate more meaningful educational experiences.