Gamification in Physics Education: Play Your Way to Better Learning

This research investigates the effectiveness of gamification in enhancing student engagement, motivation, and learning outcomes in physics education, with a particular emphasis on structural performance modeling through Knowledge Space Theory (KST). The study utilizes Basketball Physics Challenge ...

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Main Authors: Katharina Richter, Michael Kickmeier-Rust
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Serious Games Society 2025-02-01
Series:International Journal of Serious Games
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journal.seriousgamessociety.org/~serious/index.php/IJSG/article/view/858
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author Katharina Richter
Michael Kickmeier-Rust
author_facet Katharina Richter
Michael Kickmeier-Rust
author_sort Katharina Richter
collection DOAJ
description This research investigates the effectiveness of gamification in enhancing student engagement, motivation, and learning outcomes in physics education, with a particular emphasis on structural performance modeling through Knowledge Space Theory (KST). The study utilizes Basketball Physics Challenge  - a game designed to teach fundamental physics concepts like initial velocity, motion, and trajectory - and compares the outcomes of gamified versus non-gamified learning environments. The experimental design involved 10th grade students from a secondary school in Liechtenstein, using a crossover methodology where participants alternated between gamified and non-gamified versions of the game. The results indicate that gamification significantly boosts engagement and performance metrics, as evidenced by increased time on task, a higher frequency of attempts, and better scores compared to the non-gamified condition. Additionally, gamification positively influences motivation, particularly when experienced before non-gamified sessions. Although quiz performance did not show significant differences between conditions, a strong positive correlation was observed between game scores and quiz points in the gamified condition during the second session. The study, furthermore, analyzed structural performance and learning trajectories, demonstrating that gamification fosters a more dynamic and effective learning process. This study highlights the potential of gamification to transform physics education by enhancing student motivation and engagement, thereby promoting a deeper understanding and retention of complex scientific concepts.  
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spelling doaj-art-98a37fd9f7694628b2cd06e0e5cdf5a52025-08-20T02:14:57ZengSerious Games SocietyInternational Journal of Serious Games2384-87662025-02-0112110.17083/ijsg.v12i1.858Gamification in Physics Education: Play Your Way to Better LearningKatharina Richter0Michael Kickmeier-Rust1PHSGUniversity of Teacher Education St. Gallen This research investigates the effectiveness of gamification in enhancing student engagement, motivation, and learning outcomes in physics education, with a particular emphasis on structural performance modeling through Knowledge Space Theory (KST). The study utilizes Basketball Physics Challenge  - a game designed to teach fundamental physics concepts like initial velocity, motion, and trajectory - and compares the outcomes of gamified versus non-gamified learning environments. The experimental design involved 10th grade students from a secondary school in Liechtenstein, using a crossover methodology where participants alternated between gamified and non-gamified versions of the game. The results indicate that gamification significantly boosts engagement and performance metrics, as evidenced by increased time on task, a higher frequency of attempts, and better scores compared to the non-gamified condition. Additionally, gamification positively influences motivation, particularly when experienced before non-gamified sessions. Although quiz performance did not show significant differences between conditions, a strong positive correlation was observed between game scores and quiz points in the gamified condition during the second session. The study, furthermore, analyzed structural performance and learning trajectories, demonstrating that gamification fosters a more dynamic and effective learning process. This study highlights the potential of gamification to transform physics education by enhancing student motivation and engagement, thereby promoting a deeper understanding and retention of complex scientific concepts.   https://journal.seriousgamessociety.org/~serious/index.php/IJSG/article/view/858GamificationPhysics EducationLearning PerformanceMotivation
spellingShingle Katharina Richter
Michael Kickmeier-Rust
Gamification in Physics Education: Play Your Way to Better Learning
International Journal of Serious Games
Gamification
Physics Education
Learning Performance
Motivation
title Gamification in Physics Education: Play Your Way to Better Learning
title_full Gamification in Physics Education: Play Your Way to Better Learning
title_fullStr Gamification in Physics Education: Play Your Way to Better Learning
title_full_unstemmed Gamification in Physics Education: Play Your Way to Better Learning
title_short Gamification in Physics Education: Play Your Way to Better Learning
title_sort gamification in physics education play your way to better learning
topic Gamification
Physics Education
Learning Performance
Motivation
url https://journal.seriousgamessociety.org/~serious/index.php/IJSG/article/view/858
work_keys_str_mv AT katharinarichter gamificationinphysicseducationplayyourwaytobetterlearning
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