Innovation in Language Learning
Investigating The Effect of Background Animation on Moroccan Secondary School EFL Learners' Acceptance and Engagement in Gimkit Gamified Quizzing.
Abdelkarim Amzil, PhD student, Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences Hassan II University of Casablanca (Morocco)
Abstract
Gamified platforms such as Gimkit have increasingly been integrated into English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classrooms to enhance student motivation and engagement. While existing research underscores the general benefits of gamified learning tools, there has been limited focus on the influence of specific game elements on learners' perceptions and behaviors. This quasi-experimental study investigated the impact of background animation in Gimkit on Moroccan secondary school students’ acceptance and engagement during grammar-based quizzing tasks. Two intact groups participated in the study: one engaged with quizzes featuring animated backgrounds, while the other completed the same quizzes with static visuals. Data were collected through learner perception surveys and classroom observations. The results showed that background animation fostered greater student engagement without adversely affecting their overall acceptance of the platform. The findings of this study offer valuable insights into the design and implementation of gamified learning environments in EFL instruction.
Keywords: Gamification, background animation, learner engagement, student acceptance, EFL, quizzing platforms, digital learning tools.
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