Computer Quiz Games in General Chemistry for Engineering Majors in an English as a Second Language Environment

Computer quiz games
are introduced to improve teaching and learning
in a freshman engineering chemistry course in an English-as-a-second-language
(ESL) environment. These quiz games are developed and implemented
as supplemental and augmentative tools to enhance traditionally delivered
lectures. The paper shows an increase in students’ motivation
and compares the performance among students who participated in computer
quiz games, a paper-based quiz, or neither activity. An assessment
of the effectiveness of quiz games in learning is conducted via a
proposed novel chemistry achievement test, the Freshman Engineering
Chemistry Aptitude Test, and an attitude questionnaire. The findings
contribute to our understanding of the role of game-based learning
in students’ achievement in chemistry and their motivation
and attitudes toward learning general chemistry at a university within
an ESL environment, while the computer games developed are useful
in all English-based chemistry classes.