The Effect of Gamification Using Kahoot on Students' Critical Thinking Abilities: The Role of Mediating Learning Engagement and Motivation

Abstract

Gamification plays an important role in learning by bringing play elements into educational settings. One platform often used is Kahoot, the application of Kahoot in learning brings a pleasant experience for students. Many studies highlight the important role of gamification in education. However, limited studies still prove how Kahoot can improve students' critical thinking skills by involving motivation and engagement. This study investigates the effect of Kahoot gamification on students' critical thinking skills by involving motivational and engagement mediators. Three hundred twenty-nine state university students in Lombok were involved in filling out the data. Structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis was used to test the hypothesis of this study. The study's results revealed that the application of Kahoot gamification succeeded in influencing students' critical thinking skills directly and indirectly through motivational and engagement mediators. This study has important implications for improving the quality of teaching by optimizing various gamification platforms.