ERIC Number: EJ1420203
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024-Apr
Pages: 6
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0033-6882
EISSN: EISSN-1745-526X
Gather.Town: A Gamification Tool to Promote Engagement and Establish Online Learning Communities for Language Learners
RELC Journal: A Journal of Language Teaching and Research, v55 n1 p240-245 2024
The use of virtual learning communities has shown great potential for language education. Research suggests that video-conferencing technology can assist teachers in creating such communities for second-language teaching. Gather.Town is a gamified, video-conferencing platform that revolutionizes the traditional static video-conferencing experience for language learners. It provides users with a 2D map with avatar-based game features utilizing proximity-based video-conferencing functionality which enhance student online engagement and promote interaction that resembles real-life conditions. Gather.Town has received increasing attention from educational researchers since its launch in May 2020; however, its adoption in language classrooms has not yet been explored. This review paper aims to introduce Gather.Town to language teachers and researchers to enhance student engagement in virtual learning communities.
Descriptors: Gamification, Learner Engagement, Electronic Learning, Second Language Learning, Second Language Instruction, Videoconferencing, Communities of Practice, Educational Technology, Educational Environment, Virtual Classrooms, English (Second Language)
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A