Exploring United Arab Emirates School Teachers’ Perceptions, Motivation and Benefits of Game-Based Teaching and Learning Environments

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55016/ojs/ajer.v70i2.78197

Keywords:

Game-based teaching-learning, technology in education, gamification, school education, quantitative study; Enseignement-apprentissage basé sur le jeu, technologie dans l'éducation, ludification, enseignement scolaire, étude quantitative

Abstract

Recent research specifies that game-based learning effectively engages students in classroom activities. Although there has been a prominent upsurge in game-based teaching and learning, this area has not received significant attention within the context of Gulf nations. This study investigates the perceptions, motivations, and benefits of game-based teaching-learning among school teachers, aiming to enhance the interactive learning environment. This study used a quantitative method and survey data from 505 school teachers who were actively teaching around the United Arab Emirates to reach its objectives. The majority of teachers believed that using games as a teaching tool in the classroom was a good idea. The study revealed the potential for game-based learning in the classroom and identified challenges, such as the need for rigorous game-based instructional design. We examined game-based teaching and learning’s role in contributing to interactive learning environments and its apparent benefits of improving teamwork and lowering stress among teachers.

Des recherches récentes précisent que l'apprentissage par le jeu permet d'impliquer efficacement les étudiants dans les activités de la classe. Bien que l'enseignement et l'apprentissage par le jeu aient connu un essor important, ce domaine n'a pas reçu une attention particulière dans le contexte des pays du Golfe. Cette étude examine les perceptions, les motivations et les avantages de l'enseignement et de l'apprentissage par le jeu chez les enseignants, dans le but d'améliorer l'environnement d'apprentissage interactif. Pour atteindre ses objectifs, cette étude a utilisé une méthode quantitative et des données d'enquête provenant de 505 enseignants dans les écoles de la région des Émirats arabes unis. La majorité des enseignants ont estimé que l'utilisation des jeux comme outil d'enseignement en classe était une bonne idée. L'étude a révélé le potentiel de l'apprentissage par le jeu en classe et a identifié des défis, tels que la nécessité d'une conception pédagogique rigoureuse basée sur le jeu. Nous avons examiné le rôle de l'enseignement et de l'apprentissage par le jeu dans la création d'environnements d'apprentissage interactifs, ainsi que ses avantages apparents en termes d'amélioration du travail d'équipe et de réduction du stress chez les enseignants.

Author Biographies

Ghadah Al Murshidi, United Arab Emirates University

Ghadah Al Murshidi, an Associate Professor in Curriculum and Instruction with a background in Applied Linguistics, teaches both graduate and undergraduate courses. Her recent awards include Best Arab Youth Researcher, Young Emirati Researchers Prize, and Emirati Women Award. She chairs the Innovation and Communication and Public Relations committees, and is a member of several others including the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation and the Mobile Learning Project. Additionally, she reviews for several journals including the Journal of Education and Training Studies and the British Journal of Education. Contact: g_almurshidi@uaeu.ac.ae.

Agus Budi Wahyudi, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta

Agus Budi Wahyudi, MHum, is currently the Head of Development for General Courses at the Language and General Knowledge Department of Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta. He is senior lecturer in Indonesian language Department. His expertise lies in general linguistics, phonology, creative writing, integration technology in education, literacy education, and school magazine management. E-mail: abw186@ums.ac.id

M Monjurul Islam, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris

M Monjurul Islam, PhD is Research Assistant at Qatar University Young Scientists Center, Office of VP for Research & Graduate Studies. He obtained his PhD from the University of Malaya, Malaysia.  He has published his research in journals such as Current Issues in Language Planning, Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education, The Journal of Asia TEFL, Smart Learning Environment and The Qualitative Report. His research interests lay in the area of policy and planning, literacy education, applied linguistics, curriculum and instruction, and language teaching-learning. He is on the editorial boards of Journal of Educators Online, Education and Information Technologies, Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, and Heliyon. He may be contacted at monjurul@fbk.upsi.edu.my.

S V Karthiga , SRM Institute of Science and Technology

Dr. S V Karthiga is an Assistant Professor of English and Research Supervisor at College of Science and Humanities, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chennai. Earning her Doctoral Degree by researching Music and English Language from Bharathiar University, she made herself predominant in her chosen area of specialization—English Language Teaching, English Language for Specific Purpose, Tribal Studies. She has served as a resource person in various seminar and conferences addressing topics relevant to English for Employability, Nature and Language, and Communication Abilities. She co-authored the novel A Canopy of Darkness and The Sangria becomes her debut work of art as a poet. Email: karthigasv2022@gmail.com

Laily Rahmatika, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta

Laily Rahmatika is a teacher of Indonesian language as foreign speakers. She graduated from Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta. Her research interest includes critical discourse analysis, sociolinguistics, pragmatics, language teaching and learning, technology integration in education, and BIPA (Bahasa Indonesia bagi Penutur Asing or Indonesian Language for Foreign Speakers). E-mail: lailyrahmatika20@gmail.com

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Published

2024-07-30

How to Cite

Murshidi, G. A., Wahyudi, A. B., Islam, M. M., Karthiga , S. V., & Rahmatika, L. (2024). Exploring United Arab Emirates School Teachers’ Perceptions, Motivation and Benefits of Game-Based Teaching and Learning Environments. Alberta Journal of Educational Research, 70(2), 310–327. https://doi.org/10.55016/ojs/ajer.v70i2.78197

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Vol. 70 No. 2 (2024): Summer

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