Gamification in Higher Education: Insights from Ecuadorian Professors

What Is Gamification in Education?

This article explains that gamification refers to the use of game-like elements—such as points, badges, and rankings—in non-game contexts like education. According to Torres-Toukoumidis, Romero-Rodríguez, and Valle Razo, gamification has the potential to transform teaching practices in Ecuadorian universities.

Why Is It Relevant?

The main findings indicate that most Ecuadorian professors have a moderate to high understanding of gamification, both at conceptual and practical levels. However, public university faculty demonstrate stronger theoretical and applied knowledge compared to private university counterparts.

How Was It Studied?

Research Framework

A quantitative survey was conducted with 60 professors from Ecuadorian public and private universities. The questionnaire evaluated:

• Theoretical knowledge (concepts, elements, psychological aspects).

• Practical knowledge (implementation, reward systems, classroom management).

Key Results

• 65% of professors correctly defined gamification.

• 62% recognized game components.

• Only 43% understood related psychological factors.

• 69% were familiar with reward-based systems and behavior-linked rankings.

• Professors from pedagogy, engineering, and medicine applied gamification more than others.

Statistical Significance

A Student’s t-test confirmed that:

• Professors possess both conceptual and practical knowledge (means > 3).

• Public university faculty showed statistically higher scores in gamification awareness than private counterparts (p < 0.05).

FAQs

Q: Which faculties lead in gamification application?

This article explains that pedagogy stands out for both theoretical understanding and classroom experimentation, followed by technical fields like engineering and medicine.

Q: Why do public institutions perform better?

Possibly due to stronger teacher training programs and academic incentives for pedagogical innovation in public universities.

Q: What’s next for gamification in Ecuador?

The authors recommend expanding sample sizes, integrating gamification into teacher training, and encouraging cross-disciplinary adoption to enhance student motivation and engagement.