PLATFORMA KAHOOT! – O PUNTE PENTRU DEZVOLTAREA COMPETENŢELOR SOCIO-EMOŢIONALE ŞI COGNITIVE
THE KAHOOT! PLATFORM – A BRIDGE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIO-EMOTIONAL AND COGNITIVE COMPETENCES

Summary/Abstract: The study investigates the impact of integrating the Kahoot! platform into the educational process, analyzing its potential to facilitate interaction between digital immigrants (teachers) and digital natives (students). The analysis adopts a triadic perspective (thesis–antithesis–synthesis), highlighting both the platform’s educational potential and the risk of superficial learning in the absence of adequate pedagogical mediation. The exploratory research employs a mixed-methods approach structured around four complementary levels to provide an integrated perspective on the phenomenon under investigation: a qualitative review of the relevant literature, direct observation, semi-structured interviews, and descriptive research based on opinion surveys. The first level establishes the conceptual framework and explores cognitive theories (Mayer, Dehaene, and Piaget) that support the use of gamification in education. Direct observation, conducted over a period of three years and encompassing more than 100 Kahoot! sessions at the lower secondary level, provides an empirical basis for assessing students’ active engagement, their spontaneous reactions, and their perceptions of game-based learning. Semi-structured interviews conducted with ten teachers explored the subjective barriers and motivations influencing the adoption of the platform, helping to clarify teachers’ reluctance toward its systematic use. The quantitative component is based on opinion surveys administered to teachers through the iTeach platform. The sample, comprising a total of 166 respondents, enabled the investigation of teachers’ perceptions, attitudes, and psycho-pedagogical barriers related to technology adoption. The findings suggest that carefully planned integration of gamification can transcend its entertainment function and anxiety-reduction benefits, becoming a valuable educational tool. By leveraging natural learning mechanisms, it can support higher-order cognitive development through strategies such as immediate feedback, mental micro-breaks, and structured debriefing sessions.

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