To Quiz or to Shoot When Practicing Grammar? Catching and Holding the Interest of Child Learners: A Field Study

• DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.856623
• Publication Date: 2022-04-15T06:08:44Z
• Authors: Cyril Brom; Lukáš Kolek; Jiří Lukavský; Filip Děchtěrenko; Kristina Volná
• Keywords: learning analytics; interest; 4. Education; 05 social sciences; persistence; BF1-990; intrinsic integration; Psychology; quiz; game-based learning (GBL); 0503 education; distraction

Learning grammar requires practice and practicing can be boring. We examined whether an instructional game with intrinsically integrated mechanics promotes this practice: compared to rote learning through a quiz. did so “in the field.” Tens of thousands children visited, in their leisure time, public website tens attractive online games for during 6-week-long period. Of these children, 11,949 picked voluntarily our training intervention. Thereafter, unbeknown them, they were assigned either or quiz condition. By means analytics, we variables related participants’ persistence performance. The results showed large participant drop-out before completing first level both conditions (42.2%), confirming boringness topic. More completed at least one (61.8 vs. 53.6%). However, more intervention (all six levels) (6.0 4.3%). In game, answered fewer questions correctly (36.3 47.4) made errors (16.1 13.1). These findings suggest that even if initially catches user attention, it may not hold it. Plus, is minimalistic intrinsic integration playing, distractive. conclude driven by other than game’s shooting mechanics; instance, desire learn topic feeling achievement quizzing mechanics.