Biography
Dr. Esma Fetsi is a lecturer at the École Normale Supérieure Assia Djebar in Constantine, Algeria. She earned her PhD from Brothers Mentouri University of Constantine in 2017. Her research spans language didactics, English for Specific Purposes, English-medium instruction, and linguistics.
Conference contributions 1
BEYOND POINTS AND BADGES:
Emotionally intelligent gamification to boost engagement
Can educational games respond to learners' emotions to improve engagement ? Emotionally intelligent gamification offers this possibility by integrating learners' emotional states into game-based learning. Unlike traditional gamification, which relies on fixed rewards such as points or badges, emotionally aware systems adjust feedback, challenge levels, and activities in real time based on cues like facial expressions, voice tone, or interaction patterns. This study examines the potential of emotionally intelligent gamification in EFL higher education classrooms, focusing on two groups of first-year students at the Ecole Normale Supérieure Al-Katiba Assia Djebar, Constantine. A questionnaire was used to explore learners' perceptions of engagement, motivation, and learning experience. Results suggest that emotionally adaptive gamification increases engagement, enhances motivation, and offers a sense of personalized learning. However, learners also raise concerns about privacy, ethical use of emotional data, and the need for teacher guidance. Overall, emotionally intelligent gamification can enrich learning when applied responsibly.