THE USE OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY IN ENHANCING STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AND MOTIVATION IN THE CLASSROOM

Abstract

The transformation of education in the Industrial Revolution 4.0 era demands a new learning approach that can meet the needs of Generation Z students, who have short attention spans and are easily distracted. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the E-Prestasi application, developed based on game-based learning principles and powered by digital technology, in enhancing student engagement and motivation during learning sessions. A structured questionnaire was administered to 126 students after using the application in class. The findings indicate that students responded positively to the use of E-Prestasi in terms of motivation, challenge, interaction, and rewards gained. This study supports the potential of digital technology in enhancing experiential and digital interaction-based pedagogy. The potential use of digital technology through this application can be expanded not only in the learning process at educational institutions but also in staff training.