VocabQuest: An Engaging Digital Game for Enhancing English Vocabulary Skills among Foundation Students at Politeknik Nilai

Sep 28, 2026

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Vocabulary learning is a core component of English education, yet foundation students often struggle with retention and applying new words through traditional instruction. This extended abstract introduces VocabQuest, a gamified digital innovation created with the ADDIE model to enhance vocabulary acquisition via syllabus-based interactive activities. Using platforms such as Kahoot, Quizizz, and Wordwall, it features Word Hunter, Match & Win, and Survival Quiz supported by points, badges, and leaderboards. A pilot with 30 students showed a 20% vocabulary score improvement and strong positive engagement, suggesting improved motivation, confidence, collaboration, and digital literacy while remaining scalable and cost-effective.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryTechnology

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Problem Statement

Objectives

Product Description & Methodology

Game Modes

Development Using the ADDIE Model

Potential Findings and Commercialization

ILEIID 2025 | International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) ISSN: 2454-6186 | DOI: 10.47772/IJRISS Special Issue | Volume IX Issue XXV October 2025 VocabQuest: An Engaging Digital Game for Enhancing English Vocabulary Skills among Foundation Students at Politeknik Nilai 1Syafawati Noorhafizah binti Adnan Adil Jabatan Pengajian Am, Politeknik Nilai DOI: [https://dx.doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.925ILEIID00003](https://dx.doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.925ILEIID00003) Received: 23 September 2025; Accepted: 30 September 2025; Published: 04 November 2025 ABSTRACT Vocabulary learning is a core component of English language education, yet many foundation students struggle with retention and application when relying on traditional teaching methods. This extended abstract presents VocabQuest, a gamified digital innovation designed to improve vocabulary acquisition through interactive, syllabus-based activities. Developed using the ADDIE model, which strengthens methodological rigor, the innovation integrates cost-effective and widely accessible platforms such as Kahoot, Quizizz, and Wordwall to create three main game modes: Word Hunter, Match & Win, and Survival Quiz. These activities are supported by a reward system of points, badges, and leaderboards to enhance motivation. A pilot study with 30 students revealed a 20% improvement in vocabulary test scores and strong positive feedback on engagement. The findings suggest that VocabQuest enhances not only vocabulary mastery but also fosters motivation, confidence, and essential 21st-century skills such as collaboration and digital literacy. The innovation’s novelty lies in its integration of gamification with syllabus-aligned content, ensuring pedagogical relevance while maintaining learner interest. Overall, VocabQuest demonstrates strong potential as a transformative, student-centered approach to language education. Scalable and cost-effective, VocabQuest has strong potential for wider adoption across Politeknik campuses and other educational institutions, demonstrating the transformative power of gamified learning in language education. Keywords: English Language Education, Vocabulary Acquisition, Educational Technology, Learner Motivation, Gamified Learning INTRODUCTION Vocabulary acquisition is central to English language proficiency, influencing students’ reading comprehension, writing, and communication skills. Despite its importance, many foundation students at Politeknik Nilai face difficulties mastering new vocabulary due to reliance on traditional approaches such as rote memorization and lecture-based teaching. These methods often result in low engagement, poor retention, and limited confidence in language use. Addressing this issue is essential for preparing students to succeed in academic and professional contexts where English is a vital medium of communication. Problem Statement Foundation students at Politeknik Nilai face persistent challenges in mastering English vocabulary. Traditional approaches such as rote memorization, worksheets, and lecture-based teaching often result in low engagement, poor retention, and limited ability to apply vocabulary in real communication. This gap not only hinders academic performance but also reduces students’ confidence in using English in academic and professional contexts. Therefore, there is a clear need for an innovative, interactive, and engaging approach to vocabulary learning that aligns with the syllabus while motivating students to participate actively. ILEIID 2025 | International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) ISSN: 2454-6186 | DOI: 10.47772/IJRISS Special Issue | Volume IX Issue XXV October 2025 Objectives 1. To improve vocabulary mastery among foundation students by at least 20% within four weeks. 2. To achieve at least 80% learner engagement, with students preferring game-based learning to traditional methods. 3. To promote 2

FAQs

What problem does VocabQuest address for foundation students?

It targets difficulties in mastering English vocabulary caused by rote memorization and lecture-based teaching, which lead to low engagement, poor retention, and limited ability to apply vocabulary in real communication.

What game modes are included in VocabQuest?

VocabQuest includes Word Hunter (thematic word search puzzles), Match & Win (matching words with definitions or images), and Survival Quiz (scenario-based challenges that require vocabulary knowledge to progress).

How effective was VocabQuest in the pilot study?

In a pilot with 30 students over four weeks, vocabulary test scores improved from a mean of 56% (pre-test) to 76% (post-test), an improvement of 20%, alongside positive feedback about ease of use and motivation.

Sep 28, 2026

Upload by Ben