Evaluating Feasibility and Effectiveness of Digital Game-Based Instructional Technology

Abstract

Higher education institutions encounters difficulties when the Covid-19 pandemic happens because learners cannot go to class and absorb knowledge directly. In Vietnam, universities have used online learning to help learners keep learning in this pandemic context. However, the quality and effectiveness of the learning process are questioned by the learner and the teaching staff. In this context, our research is looking for solutions to apply new technology in the teaching process to ensure the quality and effectiveness of learning. Among these new technologies, digital games are considered due to most students playing digital games as well as their positive effects in teaching reflected in recent publications. Under the approach of technological process, our team evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of the digital game-based instructional technology at HUST. In terms of feasibility, research results show that most students agree that learning skills can be formed by using digital games in learning process. About the efficiency, there are three key findings: First, although male students play video games more than female students, the results show that both men and women have the same rate to-wards the effectiveness of digital games in learning. Second, there is no difference in assessing the effectiveness of digital games in learning between IT students and non-IT students although IT students are more exposed to technology. Third, there is a difference in the views of second-year students and third-year students. This difference shows the reason to build blended-learning courses that use digital games effectively for third-year students who starts more indeed engineering major at universities.