Gamified Assessment as a Catalyst for Students’ Engagement and Achievement in Mathematics among Junior Secondary School Students in Lagos State

Abstract

In today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape, the need for innovative, learner-centered instructional strategies has become increasingly essential for improving student participation and academic performance. As technology continues to reshape classroom practices, gamified assessment has emerged as a promising approach for fostering motivation and enhancing learning experiences. This study investigated the effectiveness of gamified assessment in improving student engagement and academic achievement in Mathematics among junior secondary school students in Lagos State. A quasi-experimental pre-test, post-test control group design was adopted, involving 120 students selected through a multi-stage sampling technique. The experimental group received Mathematics instruction enriched with gamification features such as points, badges, levels, leaderboards, and instant feedback, while the control group was taught the same content using traditional assessment strategies. Two hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance to guide the study. Data were collected using a researcher-designed instrument titled “Gamified Assessment as a Catalyst for Student Engagement Questionnaire “(GACSEQ) and a Mathematics Achievement Test (MAT) with reliability coefficients of 0.79 and 0.82 respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings revealed a significant difference in the engagement levels and academic achievement between students exposed to gamified assessment and those assessed through conventional methods, with the experimental group performing notably better. The study concludes that gamified assessment is an effective pedagogical tool for promoting active learning and improving academic outcomes in mathematics. It recommends the integration of gamification elements into mathematics instruction, continuous professional development for teachers, and the adoption of innovative assessment practices to support deeper learning and enhance student performance.

Keywords: Academic Achievement, Gamified assessment, Mathematics, Student engagement.