Speakers
Karina Muravova
Burgas State University, BulgariaStart
End
EduRank Arena: A Gamified Competitive Learning Platform for Enhancing Student Engagement and Academic Performance
📅 Friday 22/05 11:00-12:30h
📍 Main Hall
🔎 Needs Analysis
Digital transformation in education has increased interest in approaches that improve student engagement, motivation, and learning outcomes. However, traditional assessment systems often rely on passive evaluation methods that provide limited feedback and insufficient motivation for continuous learning. Many students, particularly in STEM-related subjects, experience declining engagement due to repetitive instruction and delayed performance feedback. At the same time, modern learners are increasingly familiar with interactive and competitive digital environments, particularly in gaming contexts. This research explores how gamified competitive systems can be integrated into formal education to enhance both engagement and academic performance.
📒 Session Description
The proposed research introduces EduRank Arena, a gamified competitive learning platform that integrates curriculum-based assessment with player-versus-player (PvP) game mechanics. The system organizes learning content into subject-based experience categories such as Mathematics, Biology, Physics, Geography, Literature, and Information Technology. Students accumulate experience points (XP) within each discipline, allowing the platform to generate differentiated academic profiles reflecting subject-specific proficiency. Progression is structured through a rank-based system (e.g., Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum), designed to maintain motivation through visible achievement milestones.
The theoretical foundation of the platform draws from gamification theory, self-determination theory, and flow theory, which emphasize the importance of challenge balance, autonomy, and immediate feedback in sustaining learner motivation. To support this, the system incorporates an adaptive matchmaking algorithm that pairs students with opponents of similar performance levels, maintaining an optimal level of challenge and engagement. Additional mechanics—including timed rounds, streak bonuses, and predictive performance indicators—are designed to encourage sustained cognitive engagement.
Methodologically, the research follows a design-based research approach, involving iterative development and evaluation of the platform within classroom environments. Data will be collected through platform analytics, student performance metrics, engagement indicators, and teacher feedback. The system also includes analytical dashboards for educators, enabling real-time monitoring of student progress.