Gamification, collaborative learning and transversal competences: analysis of academic performance and students’ perceptions

Abstract The importance and benefits of teamwork in the university context have been widely recognized in recent decades. However, there is little evidence that analyzes the effects of the combination of collaborative learning strategies and gamification methodologies for the improvement of transver...

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Main Authors: Cecilia Latorre-Cosculluela, Verónica Sierra-Sánchez, Sandra Vázquez-Toledo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-01-01
Series:Smart Learning Environments
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-024-00361-2
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author Cecilia Latorre-Cosculluela
Verónica Sierra-Sánchez
Sandra Vázquez-Toledo
author_facet Cecilia Latorre-Cosculluela
Verónica Sierra-Sánchez
Sandra Vázquez-Toledo
author_sort Cecilia Latorre-Cosculluela
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The importance and benefits of teamwork in the university context have been widely recognized in recent decades. However, there is little evidence that analyzes the effects of the combination of collaborative learning strategies and gamification methodologies for the improvement of transversal skills and academic performance. In this sense, in this study an intervention program was carried out in the university classroom that alternated the use of technology, gamification (through the use of the ClassDojo platform) and collaborative learning to improve the development of transversal skills. More specifically, the objective was to analyze the academic performance and qualitative perceptions of university students after the application of a gamified educational approach. A mixed research methodology was used with quantitative and qualitative techniques combining descriptive, correlational and linear regression analysis and an interview was administered to the 117 students involved in the experience. The results obtained indicated that the application of the program produced improvements on the development of transversal competences and on the academic performance of university students. In addition, the qualitative analysis of the perceptions allowed us to conclude that this program that combines gamification with collaborative learning received a positive evaluation by the students regarding different variables such as the applicability of gamification for the improvement of softskills, the benefits on the teaching–learning process and other factors that influence motivation before the use of gamification techniques in learning.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2196-7091
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher SpringerOpen
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series Smart Learning Environments
spelling doaj-art-25f34be0a0d44ffa9c058bd84b4696692025-01-12T12:44:02ZengSpringerOpenSmart Learning Environments2196-70912025-01-0112111710.1186/s40561-024-00361-2Gamification, collaborative learning and transversal competences: analysis of academic performance and students’ perceptionsCecilia Latorre-Cosculluela0Verónica Sierra-Sánchez1Sandra Vázquez-Toledo2Department of Educational Sciences, University of ZaragozaDepartment of Educational Sciences, University of ZaragozaDepartment of Educational Sciences, University of ZaragozaAbstract The importance and benefits of teamwork in the university context have been widely recognized in recent decades. However, there is little evidence that analyzes the effects of the combination of collaborative learning strategies and gamification methodologies for the improvement of transversal skills and academic performance. In this sense, in this study an intervention program was carried out in the university classroom that alternated the use of technology, gamification (through the use of the ClassDojo platform) and collaborative learning to improve the development of transversal skills. More specifically, the objective was to analyze the academic performance and qualitative perceptions of university students after the application of a gamified educational approach. A mixed research methodology was used with quantitative and qualitative techniques combining descriptive, correlational and linear regression analysis and an interview was administered to the 117 students involved in the experience. The results obtained indicated that the application of the program produced improvements on the development of transversal competences and on the academic performance of university students. In addition, the qualitative analysis of the perceptions allowed us to conclude that this program that combines gamification with collaborative learning received a positive evaluation by the students regarding different variables such as the applicability of gamification for the improvement of softskills, the benefits on the teaching–learning process and other factors that influence motivation before the use of gamification techniques in learning.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-024-00361-2Collaborative learningGamificationTransversal skillsAcademic performancePerceptions
spellingShingle Cecilia Latorre-Cosculluela
Verónica Sierra-Sánchez
Sandra Vázquez-Toledo
Gamification, collaborative learning and transversal competences: analysis of academic performance and students’ perceptions
Smart Learning Environments
Collaborative learning
Gamification
Transversal skills
Academic performance
Perceptions
title Gamification, collaborative learning and transversal competences: analysis of academic performance and students’ perceptions
title_full Gamification, collaborative learning and transversal competences: analysis of academic performance and students’ perceptions
title_fullStr Gamification, collaborative learning and transversal competences: analysis of academic performance and students’ perceptions
title_full_unstemmed Gamification, collaborative learning and transversal competences: analysis of academic performance and students’ perceptions
title_short Gamification, collaborative learning and transversal competences: analysis of academic performance and students’ perceptions
title_sort gamification collaborative learning and transversal competences analysis of academic performance and students perceptions
topic Collaborative learning
Gamification
Transversal skills
Academic performance
Perceptions
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-024-00361-2
work_keys_str_mv AT cecilialatorrecosculluela gamificationcollaborativelearningandtransversalcompetencesanalysisofacademicperformanceandstudentsperceptions
AT veronicasierrasanchez gamificationcollaborativelearningandtransversalcompetencesanalysisofacademicperformanceandstudentsperceptions
AT sandravazqueztoledo gamificationcollaborativelearningandtransversalcompetencesanalysisofacademicperformanceandstudentsperceptions