GAMIFICATION-BASED APPROACHES IN TEACHING SUSTAINABLE USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES: IMPACTS ON LEARNERS' MOTIVATION, COGNITIVE ENGAGEMENT, AND ECO-BEHAVIOR

This study investigates the effectiveness of gamification-based instructional strategies in teaching concepts related to the sustainable use of natural resources. Drawing on contemporary educational psychology and cognitive neuroscience (2020–2024), the research explores how game elements—rewards, challenges, feedback loops, levels, and eco-missions—affect learners’ motivation, attention, retention, and ecological decision-making. A pilot experiment involving 56 secondary students was conducted to compare traditional instruction with gamified learning modules on water conservation, renewable energy, and waste reduction. The results indicate that gamification significantly enhances motivation (increase by 41%), long-term retention (increase by 32%), and responsible eco-behavior. The study presents an original instructional model, the Gamified Resource-Saving Competency Framework (GRSCF), as a scientific contribution.