The impact of social media and gamification of a mobile vocabulary learning app: Self-regulation and learning persistence

Scholars indicated that learners who are strategic with their language learning (e.g., self-regulated learning (SRL), cognitive and meta-cognitive strategies) tend to be more efficient, resourceful, and flexible, and thus have better language learning outcomes (Oxford, 2016; Heo et al., 2012; Plons...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Qian Xu, Jennifer Richardson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Online Learning Consortium 2024-12-01
Series:Online Learning
Online Access:https://olj.onlinelearningconsortium.org/index.php/olj/article/view/4592
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846128885148680192
author Qian Xu
Jennifer Richardson
author_facet Qian Xu
Jennifer Richardson
author_sort Qian Xu
collection DOAJ
description Scholars indicated that learners who are strategic with their language learning (e.g., self-regulated learning (SRL), cognitive and meta-cognitive strategies) tend to be more efficient, resourceful, and flexible, and thus have better language learning outcomes (Oxford, 2016; Heo et al., 2012; Plonsky, 2011). Besides focusing on knowledge, language learners, as L2 teachers already do, need to prepare themselves with self-regulated learning skills, so they can achieve the target language learning outcomes. This study selected Shanbay Danci (SBDC), a popular mobile vocabulary application (Wang, 2020, Su & Su, 2015), as the intervention. SBDC allows learners to share not only information about their goals but also badges (a gamification feature) demonstrating their learning outcomes. To explore the impacts of the badge-sharing feature on learners’ perceived self-regulation level, vocabulary learning persistence, and self-regulated learning experiences, a total of 77 undergraduates, who were enrolled in College English courses at a Chinese institution, participated in the study. Results showed participants in the badge-sharing group (experimental) tended to have significantly higher SRL levels (e.g., better management of time and the learning environment, being more strategic in completing tasks, selecting an appropriate learning environment, setting learning goals, and self-evaluating their learning progress) than those in the control group who were not enrolled in any badge sharing group. Moreover, those in the badge-sharing group demonstrated higher persistence in learning vocabulary, with a completion rate of 70%, versus 56% in the control group. Qualitative results indicated that badge sharing enhanced learners’ self and shared regulation capacity in the process of learning vocabulary.
format Article
id doaj-art-9945f292c1c6419891917da4f20cfe35
institution Kabale University
issn 2472-5749
2472-5730
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Online Learning Consortium
record_format Article
series Online Learning
spelling doaj-art-9945f292c1c6419891917da4f20cfe352024-12-10T15:06:26ZengOnline Learning ConsortiumOnline Learning2472-57492472-57302024-12-0128410.24059/olj.v28i4.4592The impact of social media and gamification of a mobile vocabulary learning app: Self-regulation and learning persistenceQian XuJennifer Richardson0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7534-1406Purdue University Scholars indicated that learners who are strategic with their language learning (e.g., self-regulated learning (SRL), cognitive and meta-cognitive strategies) tend to be more efficient, resourceful, and flexible, and thus have better language learning outcomes (Oxford, 2016; Heo et al., 2012; Plonsky, 2011). Besides focusing on knowledge, language learners, as L2 teachers already do, need to prepare themselves with self-regulated learning skills, so they can achieve the target language learning outcomes. This study selected Shanbay Danci (SBDC), a popular mobile vocabulary application (Wang, 2020, Su & Su, 2015), as the intervention. SBDC allows learners to share not only information about their goals but also badges (a gamification feature) demonstrating their learning outcomes. To explore the impacts of the badge-sharing feature on learners’ perceived self-regulation level, vocabulary learning persistence, and self-regulated learning experiences, a total of 77 undergraduates, who were enrolled in College English courses at a Chinese institution, participated in the study. Results showed participants in the badge-sharing group (experimental) tended to have significantly higher SRL levels (e.g., better management of time and the learning environment, being more strategic in completing tasks, selecting an appropriate learning environment, setting learning goals, and self-evaluating their learning progress) than those in the control group who were not enrolled in any badge sharing group. Moreover, those in the badge-sharing group demonstrated higher persistence in learning vocabulary, with a completion rate of 70%, versus 56% in the control group. Qualitative results indicated that badge sharing enhanced learners’ self and shared regulation capacity in the process of learning vocabulary. https://olj.onlinelearningconsortium.org/index.php/olj/article/view/4592
spellingShingle Qian Xu
Jennifer Richardson
The impact of social media and gamification of a mobile vocabulary learning app: Self-regulation and learning persistence
Online Learning
title The impact of social media and gamification of a mobile vocabulary learning app: Self-regulation and learning persistence
title_full The impact of social media and gamification of a mobile vocabulary learning app: Self-regulation and learning persistence
title_fullStr The impact of social media and gamification of a mobile vocabulary learning app: Self-regulation and learning persistence
title_full_unstemmed The impact of social media and gamification of a mobile vocabulary learning app: Self-regulation and learning persistence
title_short The impact of social media and gamification of a mobile vocabulary learning app: Self-regulation and learning persistence
title_sort impact of social media and gamification of a mobile vocabulary learning app self regulation and learning persistence
url https://olj.onlinelearningconsortium.org/index.php/olj/article/view/4592
work_keys_str_mv AT qianxu theimpactofsocialmediaandgamificationofamobilevocabularylearningappselfregulationandlearningpersistence
AT jenniferrichardson theimpactofsocialmediaandgamificationofamobilevocabularylearningappselfregulationandlearningpersistence
AT qianxu impactofsocialmediaandgamificationofamobilevocabularylearningappselfregulationandlearningpersistence
AT jenniferrichardson impactofsocialmediaandgamificationofamobilevocabularylearningappselfregulationandlearningpersistence