Motivating young learners using games. (c2011)

Abstract

Elementary school teachers are facing difficulties motivating students to learn effectively and efficiently in the classroom. One way to solve the problem is by using gaming in the classroom. This study investigates the use of games to motivate young learners in the classroom. Thus, this study was conducted in a private school in North Lebanon. 37 participants of the same age group, from middle to low socio economic status were selected to be part of the study. Their parents have a medium to a low level mastery of the English language. Classes were taught using two different approaches: traditional and nontraditional. Students were tested at the end of each lesson. Significant differences were noticed in the test results. Using games inside a classroom showed a great motivation for students to master the material being taught. The absence of gaming showed a negative effect both on students’ grades and on students’ motivation. Although the findings are significant, more research should be conducted to get more accurate results and be able to generalize the results.