Essay

The Power of Mobile Game-Based Learning

Written by Bayan Shamasneh

Not all games and apps are just about wasting time and entertainment; many of them are educational in nature and fun at the same time. The article, titled "Using Mobile Game-based English Vocabulary Learning Apps to Improve Vocabulary Acquisition in Primary School" by the author Junjie Shen, discusses how using apps and games to learn English vocabulary can improve interaction and participation, making learning more effective and enjoyable. This method makes it easier for both teachers and students to increase their vocabulary in a fun and creative manner. I completely agree with all the ideas presented by the author regarding the effectiveness of apps and games in learning English vocabulary and their application in teaching, which significantly improves the quality of both school and self-directed learning.

The writer Junjie Shen begins by discussing in his article "Using Mobile Game-based English Vocabulary Learning Apps to Improve Vocabulary Acquisition in Primary School " how educational games and apps boost students' enthusiasm and motivation to learn English vocabulary, ultimately improving their performance in vocabulary exams. A study has been conducted on evaluating university students' performance in vocabulary learning through these applications compared to the traditional method, and it shows that learning vocabulary through apps is better and more beneficial for their gain. Second, some apps designed to memorize English words have many benefits that help motivate students helping to motivate students and enhance the effectiveness of their learning. They are better for students as it has been shown that those who use them have better memory. Their benefits are numerous compared to the traditional method, such as increasing students' vocabulary, grabbing their attention, motivating them, building their confidence, and requiring less effort. Furthermore, some apps combine games with learning English vocabulary. For example, the app "BaiCiZhan" enhances memory, makes memorization easier, and helps with listening, pronunciation, and spelling. It also includes a review system based on the forgetting curve of Ebbinghaus, where users review old words before new ones, helping to improve and strengthen memory and greatly benefit from the memorization process. Next, some apps integrated with games for younger students are more fun, engaging, and easier than boring books, ensuring their participation and achieving self-satisfaction and academic benefits. For instance, the "Duolingo" app employs games to help word retention. Apps that integrate games into learning help children enhance their language skills in engaging ways through vocabulary quizzes and creative photos, videos, and sounds. Learning through mobile games has gained popularity due to its fun and effective nature, particularly among young and elementary students, motivating them to participate more actively in lessons. Then, there are drawbacks associated with using educational apps and games for English learning. These include students spending excessive time on them, becoming overly dependent on them, and some apps providing inaccurate information. For example, inappropriate ads and inaccurate information distract and confuse students, hurting learning. In addition, a lack of experience and understanding of using these tools properly can lead to distraction and hinder critical thinking skills. Solutions to these problems include parents monitoring their children's app usage and professionals ensuring the accuracy of information provided by these apps, thus enhancing the quality of learning. Finally, vocabulary learning apps incorporating games help elementary students expand their vocabulary through multimedia elements. However, they require parental supervision and attention from developers to maximize learning success. (Shen, 2023)

The writer's ideas in this article about learning English vocabulary through gaming apps resonate with me. He suggests that by using sensory perception, students can see images, hear words, and interact with videos in these apps, helping them comprehend, connect, distinguish, and compare words effectively. In addition, using learning apps also helps teachers grasp students' attention more during class. The teacher can use one of these apps to make students memorize English words in a simpler, faster, and more enjoyable way, supporting active classroom participation. For example, when a teacher opens an English vocabulary learning app in front of students, it grabs their attention because it's something new and different from the usual methods like textbooks or oral study. Initially, students will focus on the app because it aligns with the modern technology they're used to. Also, the app's images, videos, and character voices help them interact better during the class, improving communication between the teacher and students as a whole, thus enhancing the success of the educational session in all aspects. Another benefit of these apps is self-learning for students. When students use these apps independently, they feel a sense of personal achievement and satisfaction as they see themselves improving their English language skills. This reflects positively on their class participation and exam performance, enhancing their academic achievement and self-worth.When students work on improving their English language skills on their own and grasp their time to develop these skills through apps and games, they get excited for the next day to share what they've learned with their teacher. Whether the teacher reinforces vocabulary the students learned on their own or employs it in sentences and examples shared with classmates and the teacher, the teacher's praise boosts the students' self-learning, making them feel accomplished and that their time has earned them new skills to apply in class or exams. Thus, the student strengthens their resolve to continue learning through these apps to achieve better results. However, I agree with the writer's points about the drawbacks and proposed solutions. Parents should not neglect their children when they use these apps for a long time. They should set aside a specific time of the day for app use so that children don't get too absorbed and miss out on other important activities. It's important to avoid addiction and maintain balance to get the most benefit. Programmers also play a crucial role in updating the apps to be more suitable and user-friendly for students, as well as removing inappropriate ads that may appear while using the apps. Additionally, programmers can implement time management features, such as limiting the number of attempts for each question. For example, if a student answers a question incorrectly, they might lose one of five attempts. This helps students organize their time and learn from their mistakes, improving in subsequent attempts. In addition to those solutions, teachers should focus on teaching students how to use these apps effectively by training them on how to use them correctly. This helps students get the most out of the apps and become more reliant on themselves, which also helps them feel appreciated and accomplished. Ultimately, this in itself acts as a self-reward for learning to continue.

To sum up, the writer's ideas in this article match my thoughts on how learning English vocabulary can improve learning quality. Learning becomes more personal, helping students develop and improve on their own. These apps boost students' cognitive abilities and readiness, making the learning process more effective and successful.

Reference

Shen, J. (2023). Using mobile game-based English vocabulary learning apps to improve vocabulary acquisition in Primary School. Journal of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, 8, 82–86. https://doi.org/10.54097/ehss.v8i.4230