Designing and Developing a Gamified App for Enhancing Independent Practice in K-12 Music Education

Abstract

Practice is essential for skill acquisition in any domain. Research in music education indicates that time spent practicing and effective strategies are both predictors of the achievement level in musical performance. However, many K-12 music students today lack the motivation and self-regulation skills to practice independently. Using design thinking, the researcher creates LessonLink, a gamified mobile application to motivate and cultivate K-12 music students’ self-regulation for independent practice. LessonLink serves multiple roles, including a learning management system, an interactive platform to enhance teacher-student-parent interaction, a gamified platform to motivate student practice, and an embedded self-regulation tool for goal-setting and self-monitoring.