Speaker
Description
Suleiman, M. I.
Kwara State College of Education Technical Lafiagi
suljurist@gmail.com
Track: AI, Emerging Technologies and Future Learning
English serves as the official language of instruction in Nigeria, yet many pupils in basic education struggle with limited English proficiency, which negatively affects academic achievement, classroom participation, and school retention. Conventional teaching approaches often fail to provide engaging and inclusive learning experiences, particularly in resource-constrained schools where access to innovative digital learning tools remains limited. This challenge underscores the need for technology-driven pedagogical innovations capable of supporting language development while addressing educational inequalities. This study presents the conceptual design and evaluation framework of LexiPlay, a child-friendly, game-based mobile application developed to improve English vocabulary acquisition and language skills among pupils in Nigerian basic schools. Employing a Design-Based Research (DBR) methodology, the study will be conducted in three phases. The first phase involves a needs assessment using questionnaires and focus group discussions with 120 pre-service teachers and teacher educators drawn from four Colleges of Education in Nigeria to identify learners' language difficulties and digital instructional needs. The second phase focuses on designing the LexiPlay prototype, integrating gamification features such as interactive storytelling, voice-assisted pronunciation, adaptive quizzes, reward systems, and offline functionality to enhance accessibility in low-connectivity environments. The final phase examines pre-service teachers' digital competence, perceived usefulness, and intention to integrate the application into English language instruction. The study is expected to provide a practical framework for integrating game-based digital innovations into teacher education programmes, thereby equipping future educators with effective strategies for improving English language learning, reducing educational disparities, and promoting learner retention in Nigerian basic education. The findings will contribute to ongoing discussions on building inclusive, future-ready educational ecosystems across Africa.