Game-Based Technologies as a Tool for Developing Communicative Competence in Primary School Students within a Student-Centered Educational Context

Authors

  • Iryna Bilous Department of Educology and Pedagogy, Western Ukrainian National University, 11 Lvivska vul. (WUNU Building 1), 46009 Ternopil, Ukraine
  • Iurii Shcherbiak Department of Information and Socio-cultural Activities, West Ukrainian National University 11 Lvivska vul. (WUNU Building 10), 46009 Ternopil, Ukraine
  • Volodymyr Maslak Department of Human Sciences, Cultures and Arts, Kremenchuk Mykhailo Ostrohradskyi National University, 20 Pervomayskaa vul., 39600 Kremenchuk, Ukraine
  • Roa'a Alnsour Business Technology Department, Hourani Center for Applied Scientific Research, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, 19111 Amman, Jordan
  • Edward Zygmunt Jarmoch Theological Institute in Spišské Podhradie Catholic University in Ruzomberok, Spišská Kapitula 12, 034 01 Ruzomberok, Slovakia
  • Svetlana Hubková Theological Institute in Spišské Podhradie, Catholic University in Ruzomberok, Spišská Kapitula 12, 034 01 Ruzomberok, Slovakia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15503/jecs2025.3.585.606

Keywords:

communicative competence, primary school students, game-based learning, individualisation, role-playing games, multimodal learning, digital education

Abstract

Aim. The aim of the study is to determine the pedagogical potential of game-based technologies for developing communicative competence in primary school students, taking into account their individual psychological and sensory characteristics.

Methods. The research methods include theoretical analysis (of scientific sources on communicative competence, game-based learning, developmental psychology), comparative review (of models by Dell Hymes, Michael Canale & Merrill Swain, Michael Halliday, Claire Kramsch), and empirical generalisation (of current international and Ukrainian practices in game-based learning). A typology of educational games was compiled (role-playing, dramatized, didactic), followed by the development of a model for adapting games to children’s individual characteristics (temperament, motivation, communication level, perception style). Specific examples of games and digital platforms (e.g., Wordwall, Toontastic, Classdojo) were analysed.

Results. It was revealed that each type of game contributes to the development of certain components of communicative competence – linguistic, strategic, sociocultural, emotional. The adaptation model allows matching game formats to the Student’s personality profile, thereby increasing engagement, confidence, and social inclusion. Multimodal games enhance interaction through verbal and non-verbal means, while digital tools ensure differentiated learning paths.

Conclusion. Game-based technologies serve as a powerful tool for developing communicative competence in primary education. Their correct adaptation provides an emotionally safe, inclusive, and interactive environment that supports both socialisation and language development in Students.

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Author Biographies

  • Iryna Bilous, Department of Educology and Pedagogy, Western Ukrainian National University, 11 Lvivska vul. (WUNU Building 1), 46009 Ternopil, Ukraine

    Candidate of Economic Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Educology and Pedagogy of Western Ukrainian National University (Ukraine), the author of scientific publications, including articles, sections of monographs, methodological manuals, conference materials. Field of research: primary education, game-based learning, communicative competence, student-centered education, educational and developmental environment, professional specialists' training in primary education.

  • Iurii Shcherbiak, Department of Information and Socio-cultural Activities, West Ukrainian National University 11 Lvivska vul. (WUNU Building 10), 46009 Ternopil, Ukraine

    Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor, Professor of the Department of Information and Socio-Cultural Activities of West Ukrainian National University (Ukraine), Coordinator of International Projects of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities of West Ukrainian National University (Ukraine), Professor of Katolícka Univerzita v Ružomberku (Slovakia), the author of scientific publications, including articles, monographs, sections of monographs, educational and methodological manuals, conference materials. Field of scientific interests: administrative management, youth education system, Christian pedagogy, monitoring the quality of student learning, digitalization of education.

  • Volodymyr Maslak, Department of Human Sciences, Cultures and Arts, Kremenchuk Mykhailo Ostrohradskyi National University, 20 Pervomayskaa vul., 39600 Kremenchuk, Ukraine

    Doctor of Historical Sciences, Academician of the Academy of Higher Education of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Professor of the Department of Human Sciences, Cultures and Art, Head of the Department of Human Sciences, Cultures and Art of the Kremenchuk Mykhailo Ostrohradskyi National University (Ukraine). He is the author of 150 publications, of which more than 100 are of a scientific nature, in particular, articles, monographs, textbooks and study guides. Field of research: higher and primary education, game-based and project-based learning, academic mobility, individual educational trajectories, training of future specialists in electrical engineering, cultural studies, history of science and technology, socio-cultural communication, museum and library studies, innovative management in cultural institutions, Ukrainian cultural heritage.

  • Roa'a Alnsour, Business Technology Department, Hourani Center for Applied Scientific Research, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, 19111 Amman, Jordan

    Roa’a Alnsour is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Technology Management at Al-Ahliyya Amman University, demonstrating a strong commitment to advancing her technical expertise. With a background in Electronic Business, she excels in blending practical and theoretical knowledge.  Passionate about driving positive change, she is keen to contribute to the field through innovation, collaboration, and academic rigor.

  • Edward Zygmunt Jarmoch, Theological Institute in Spišské Podhradie Catholic University in Ruzomberok, Spišská Kapitula 12, 034 01 Ruzomberok, Slovakia

    Prof. ThDr, DrSc. (1953), professor, doctor of habilitation in sociology and social work. Roman Catholic priest of the diocese in Siedlce, Poland, and university professor at the Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Theology, Catholic University in Ružomberok at the Spiš Chapter in Spišské Podhradie since 2016. He specializes in theories and methods of social work, Christian social work and charity, the history of sociological thinking, and forms of missionary work. He completed his doctoral studies at the Catholic Theological Academy in Warsaw (1987), completed his habilitation at the State University in Minsk (2004), completed his inauguration proceedings at the Catholic University in Ružomberok (2010), and was awarded the title of professor of social work by the President of the Slovak Republic. 

  • Svetlana Hubková, Theological Institute in Spišské Podhradie, Catholic University in Ruzomberok, Spišská Kapitula 12, 034 01 Ruzomberok, Slovakia

    Internal doctoral student in the field of charitable and missionary work at the Faculty of Theology in Košice, Catholic University in Ružomberok at the Theological Institute in Spišska Kapitula. In 2020, she completed her master's degree in social work and her bachelor's degree in 2018 at the Faculty of Education in the field of special pedagogy and pedagogy of the mentally disabled, then she worked and still works in practice, focusing on social assistance and in a day care center for seniors. It is also dedicated to solving and processing crisis and stress situations as well as stressful situations. He participates in the organizational provision of the teaching of professional practice classes for students of the social work department and consulting students' final theses. 

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Published

2025-09-23

How to Cite

Bilous, I. ., Shcherbiak, I., Maslak, V., Alnsour, R., Jarmoch , E. Z., & Hubková, S. (2025). Game-Based Technologies as a Tool for Developing Communicative Competence in Primary School Students within a Student-Centered Educational Context. Journal of Education Culture and Society, 16(2), 585-603. https://doi.org/10.15503/jecs2025.3.585.606