TITLE:
The Effect of Gamification on 2nd-Year Primary Education Students at ISCED-Benguela: A Proposal for the Inclusion of Environmental Education and Sustainability in Primary Education in Benguela
AUTHORS:
Julião Capiñgala Chimutue
KEYWORDS:
Gamification, Environmental Education and Sustainability, Initial Teacher Training, Active Learning Methodologies, Primary Education
JOURNAL NAME:
Creative Education,
Vol.17 No.9,
September
22,
2026
ABSTRACT: This study presents the results of a gamification-based pedagogical intervention implemented in the “Environmental Education and Sustainability” course unit during the second year of the Primary Education degree program at ISCED-Benguela. The objective was to analyze changes observed in student motivation, engagement, and learning following the implementation of a gamified strategy, as well as to discuss the implications of these results for initial teacher training and the future application of this approach in primary education. An exploratory mixed-methods methodology was adopted, utilizing a pre-test/post-test design without a control group. Participants included three instructors (evaluated via semi-structured interviews) and 40 students (evaluated via an academic motivation questionnaire, an environmental knowledge test, semi-structured interviews, and observation grids). The intervention took place over one academic semester, integrating ecological missions, collaborative challenges, and continuous feedback. Results showed improved post-intervention scores, increased student participation, and positive perceptions regarding learning in Environmental Education and Sustainability. Given the absence of a control group, the results are interpreted as exploratory evidence of improvement rather than a demonstration of causal effects of gamification on primary education. It is concluded that gamification, combined with active learning methodologies, constitutes a promising pedagogical strategy for initial teacher training, enabling future teachers to adapt these approaches to the primary education context in Benguela.