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Online Flipped and Gamification Classroom: Risks and Opportunities for the Academic Achievement of Adult Sustainable Learning during COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Lui-Kwan Ng

    (Department of Mathematics and Information Technology, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China)

  • Chung-Kwan Lo

    (Department of Mathematics and Information Technology, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China)

Abstract

The online traditional and the online flipped classroom approaches have been adopted worldwide in higher education during the prolonged city lockdowns. Research has suggested that gamification is a technopedagogy which can be integrated into these approaches to promote learning outcomes. Hence, this study aims to uncover various risks and opportunities involved in adopting the online flipped and gamified classroom approaches, especially in terms of their impact on academic achievement, for ensuring sustainable adult education during the pandemic. We conducted a mixed-method study grounded in self-determination theory and adult learning principles, in which learners enrolled in a postgraduate business management programme were divided into three instructional conditions for one module: a gamified online flipped class (GOFC, n = 25), a nongamified online flipped class (NOFC, n = 24), and a gamified online traditional class (GOTC, n = 19). Quantitative and qualitative data from the learners, teachers, and teaching assistants were collected and analysed to compare academic achievement across the classes. Contrary to the expectations of gamification proponents, the learners in the nongamified online flipped class significantly outperformed those in the two gamified online classes. Qualitative findings revealed that technical support, professional training for teachers, and building learners’ sense of belonging to their classes were necessary to ensure the sustainability of learning in fully online classes. The findings, thus, have important implications for the effective implementation of these pedagogical approaches in adult education programmes in a fully online environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Lui-Kwan Ng & Chung-Kwan Lo, 2022. "Online Flipped and Gamification Classroom: Risks and Opportunities for the Academic Achievement of Adult Sustainable Learning during COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-21, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:19:p:12396-:d:929027
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. María Jesús Santos-Villalba & Juan José Leiva Olivencia & Magdalena Ramos Navas-Parejo & María Dolores Benítez-Márquez, 2020. "Higher Education Students’ Assessments towards Gamification and Sustainability: A Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-20, October.
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    1. An Duong Thi Binh & Thu-Hang Hoang & Huy Truong Quang, 2025. "Designing Effective Hybrid Course Curriculum: A Design Science Approach to Gamification and Student Outcomes Validation," Evaluation Review, , vol. 49(3), pages 453-486, June.
    2. Karla Lobos & Rubia Cobo-Rendón & Diego García-Álvarez & Jorge Maldonado-Mahauad & Carola Bruna, 2023. "Lessons Learned from the Educational Experience during COVID-19 from the Perspective of Latin American University Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-20, January.
    3. Hatice Sancar-Tokmak & Zerrin Dagli, 2025. "A Systematic Review of Theoretical Foundations and Learning Effects in Gamified Flipped Classroom Research," Evaluation Review, , vol. 49(5), pages 880-913, October.

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