Intelligent Gamification and Learning Analytics: Data-Based Strategies to Enhance Self-Regulation and Critical Thinking in Basic STEM Education
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70577/9mz40818Keywords:
Digital Tools, Interdisciplinary Learning, Intelligent Gamification, Learning Analytics, Self-Regulated Learning, Critical Thinking, STEM Integration.Abstract
In this study, the impact of learning analytics applied to intelligent gamification is assessed as a strategy to strengthen critical thinking and complex problem solving in students’ self-direction at the basic education level within the STEM area. This need arises from the demand for an educational model capable of addressing the systemic crisis through the integration of information technologies and active, learner-centered methodologies. An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was employed, combining the analysis of student interaction data generated through gamification, the measurement of cognitive competency levels, and semi-structured interviews with teachers. The model was implemented over a 12-week period in three public basic education institutions, incorporating adaptive missions, automated feedback, and self-regulation dashboards. The results show significant improvements in learning planning, metacognitive monitoring, and the transfer of critical-thinking strategies to more complex STEM situations. Teachers also reported enhanced capacity to adjust their instruction based on indicators generated by tracking algorithms. The discussion situates these findings within the broader framework of systemic educational transformation, highlighting how the integration of gamification and learning analytics contributes to the development of more personalized, equitable, and competency-oriented educational ecosystems for the twenty-first century. Finally, the study illustrates that data-driven strategies not only improve student engagement but also serve as a foundation for advancing higher-order thinking skills and fostering a more innovative, self-directed learning culture.
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