Game-based learning and vocabulary learning

Abstract

The Game-Based Learning strategy is useful for teaching vocabulary at basic levels of education. The main objective of this study is to investigate the influence of Game-based Learning on vocabulary learning. The participants were 14 students of the Ninth Year E.B.G. from the “Julio Enrique Fernández” Educational Unit, Izamba Parish in the city of Ambato, Tungurahua Province. The data was collected based on three stages: Pre-test, experiment, and Post-test during 6 sessions. The technique that was applied to obtain results was through two Cambridge standardized tests to perform the Pre-test at the beginning to analyze their previous knowledge and a Post-test to evaluate if the application of the strategy was feasible. In addition, a pre-experimental design was used because an established control group was chosen, which was the ninth-grade students. To obtain the level of reliability of the applied tests, the Shapiro Wilk normality test was used to check if its range is normal and remains within the established ranges that are greater than 0.05. In addition, the T-student test - Statistics of paired samples was used to verify if there is any type of margin of error in the application of the Game-based learning methodology used for vocabulary learning with basic level students. The study showed favorable results after the application of this strategy where it was indicated that this strategy is highly influential towards students for the learning of vocabulary.