GAMIFICATION IN EARLY EARLY EDUCATION: IMPACTS ON THE QUALITY OF TEACHING

Abstract

This study investigated the implementation of gamification practices in early childhood education within a private school, aiming to improve the quality of teaching. The main focus of the research was to understand whether gamification, as a pedagogical approach, is aligned with the proposed learning objectives and how effective it can be in achieving such goals. The main objective was to identify which elements of gamification are most efficient, evaluate the technological infrastructure available to support these activities and measure the impact of these initiatives on the educational quality offered. For this, a qualitative methodology was adopted, through the analysis of direct observations in the classroom, interviews carried out with teachers and analysis of institutional documents. The study findings point to the relevance of gamification in increasing student engagement and motivation, highlighting the importance of a careful selection of games that are in line with learning objectives. The conclusions highlight the effectiveness of gamification as an educational strategy, highlighting, however, that its success depends on careful incorporation into pedagogical planning and the adequate preparation of teachers to use these tools. The study suggests that, when well applied, gamification can bring significant improvements to the quality of education, encouraging the development of future research on the topic, especially those focused on the training of educators and the long-term effects of this approach on student learning.