Factors Influencing the use of Digital Games in Teaching: An Exploratory Study in the Context of Digital Transformation in Northern Vietnam

Abstract

In recent years, “digital transformation” has been mentioned more and more in most social aspects of life, including education. Digital transformation takes advantage of every opportunity that technology offers and can create an ecosystem in digital education to connect teachers, learners, and countries with new learning models. Besides, a technology trend that has been gaining traction is “gamification.” In many countries, games are used in education to engage students through digital media, utilizing platforms or applications that require digital devices such as tablets, smartphones, or computers. However, to be able to apply it in Vietnam, various issues need to be addressed. The study polled 245 secondary and high school teachers in Vietnam to find out what factors influence the use of digital games in teaching in high schools in Northern Vietnam. The findings revealed that the teacher factor significantly affects the usage of digital games in the classroom. In addition, there are other factors, such as information technology tools for digital games in education, external resources, and available inherent resources. This can be used as a guide for adjusting the curriculum or developing pedagogical training programs to improve innovation and effectively use digital games in teaching.