Developing 21st Century Chemistry Learning through Designing Digital Games

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Authors

  • Ah-Nam Lay Institute of Teacher Education - Sultan Abdul Halim Campus
  • Kamisah Osman The National University of Malaysia

Keywords:

Chemistry learning, Constructionism, Digital game-based learning, Learning through designing

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of Malaysian Kimia (Chemistry) Digital Games (MyKimDG) module on students‟ achievement and motivation in chemistry as well as 21st century skills. Chemistry education in Malaysia should put greater emphasis on combination of cognitive, sociocultural and motivational aspects to ensure that students are well-equipped with knowledge, skills and values relevant to the new global economy. Previous studies have reported that digital game-based learning (DGBL) provides opportunities for increasing students‟ motivation in learning while enhancing their academic achievement and 21st century skills. Based on the DGBL approach as well as constructivist-constructionist learning theories, MyKimDG was developed as a mechanism for achieving the desired goals. In this study, students were provided opportunities to take on the role of game designers, developing digital games while learning chemistry. This study employed quasi-experimental with non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest control group design. Subjects were composed of 138 secondary students. Results showed that the treatment group outperformed the control group in the chemistry achievement test. In addition, students‟ self-efficacy and high productivity scores improved significantly between pretest and posttest for treatment group. The findings imply that the inclusion of student as game designer approach in chemistry learning is able to help students develop an in-depth knowledge on chemistry and foster their 21st century skills as well as increase students‟ motivation in chemistry.

Author Biographies

Ah-Nam Lay, Institute of Teacher Education - Sultan Abdul Halim Campus

Dr. Lay Ah-Nam is a lecturer from Institute of Teacher Education, Sultan Abdul Halim Campus in Sungai Petani, Kedah, Malaysia. After receiving his B.Sc.Ed. from the National University of Malaysia (UKM) in 2000, he taught chemistry at Keningau Technical Secondary School, Sabah. He later obtained M.Ed. in Chemistry Education from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in 2008, and Ph.D. in Science Education from UKM in 2017. His research interests include pedagogical approaches in STEM education and 21st century skills.

Kamisah Osman, The National University of Malaysia

Dr. Kamisah Osman, is a Professor from UKM in Bangi in the Department of Teaching and Learning Innovation, Faculty of Education. Dr. Kamisah Osman earned her master’s and Ph.D. studies at the University of Manchester, United Kingdom. She was the executive editor of Asian Journal of Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (2013–2014), an active editorial board member of the Eurasian Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, International Journal of Education in Mathematics, Science and Technology, Science Education Review, Malaysian Journal of Education, Malaysian Action Research Journal, AKADEMIKA Journal of Southeast Asia Social Sciences and Humanities and more recently Educational Process: International Journal. Her expertise is STEM education specializing in the assessment of problem-solving and higher order thinking as well as innovative pedagogical approaches in STEM learning.

References

Lay, A.-N. & Osman, K. (2018). Developing 21st century chemistry learning through designing digital games. Journal of Education in Science, Environment and Health (JESEH), 4(1), 81-92. DOI:10.21891/jeseh.387499

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Published

2018-01-31

How to Cite

Lay, A.-N., & Osman, K. (2018). Developing 21st Century Chemistry Learning through Designing Digital Games. Journal of Education in Science, Environment and Health, 4(1), 81–92. Retrieved from https://www.jeseh.net/index.php/jeseh/article/view/132

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Articles