Volume 29 Number 1, 2025 Effects of digital game elements on engagement and vocabulary development

Effects of digital game elements on engagement and vocabulary development

Repository record updated on:
Feb. 8, 2025, 1:06 p.m.
Database record updated on:
April 21, 2025, 7:50 p.m.
Last Harvested on:
April 21, 2025, 7:50 p.m.
bitstream:
[['https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/bitstreams/17226c35-946d-42ae-843e-b931baeffc80/download', '29_01_10125-73618.pdf']]
bitstream_txt:
[['https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/bitstreams/ed18f16c-07b3-4ef0-a6ee-2006c452403d/download', 'full_text']]
collection:
Volume 29 Number 1, 2025
contributor.author:
Zhang, Ruofei Cheng, Gary Zou, Di
date.accessioned:
2025-02-07T20:00:47Z
date.available:
2025-02-07T20:00:47Z
date.copyright:
2025
date.issued:
2025-02-10
description.abstract:
Digital game-based vocabulary learning (DGBVL) integrates key game elements such as Challenges, Rewards, Human-Computer Interactions (HCI), Multimedia, and Fantasy. Although the overall effectiveness of digital games in enhancing English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) vocabulary knowledge development is well-established, the specific roles of individual game elements remain underexplored. To fill the gap, we developed a DGBVL program incorporating the five elements to examine their impact on learner engagement and vocabulary acquisition among 50 Chinese university students. Data collection methods included an eye-tracker, pre-post-delayed tests, and semi-structured interviews. The results indicated that Challenges significantly engaged learners, while deep engagement in HCI and limited engagement in Fantasy positively influenced vocabulary knowledge development. Our findings refine existing theories on DGBVL by elucidating how game elements individually and collaboratively facilitate learner engagement and vocabulary knowledge development across the phases of Preactional/Forethought, Actional/Performance, and Post-actional/Self-reflection learning.
endingpage:
36
format.extent:
36
identifier.citation:
Zhang, R., Cheng, G., & Zou, D. (2025). Effects of digital game elements on engagement and vocabulary development. Language Learning & Technology, 29(1), 1–36. https://hdl.handle.net/10125/73618
identifier.issn:
1094-3501
identifier.uri:
https://hdl.handle.net/10125/73618
language:
eng
number:
1
publicationname:
Language Learning & Technology
publisher:
University of Hawaii National Foreign Language Resource Center Center for Language & Technology
rights.license:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License
rights.uri:
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
site_url:
/item/10125-73618/
startingpage:
1
subject:
Digital Game-Based Learning, Vocabulary Learning, Engagement, Eye Tracking
title:
Effects of digital game elements on engagement and vocabulary development
type:
Article Text
volume:
29