Lights, shadows and challenges of teachers around gamification supported by ICT: a study with teachers in training

The purpose of this paper is to identify and describe the perceptions of a group of Master's students regarding the positive and negative effects of the introduction of gamification strategies supported by the use of ICT in their students, as well as the challenges facing teachers in this regard. The design of this research corresponds to an interpretative non-experimental case study, where the collection of information was based on the development of an academic activity of a reflexive-argumentative type taking into account the students' own context as well as their professional experience. The main advantages were the benefits related to motivation, attitudes and emotions towards learning, followed by improvements in social and behavioral aspects. On the contrary, the doubts generated in relation to conceptual aspects and content added to the overexposure of technology, are the most common concerns. Regarding the challenges, the importance of addressing them from a threefold perspective that integrates both a pedagogical, digital and economic perspective was stressed. They need to review from the conception and formulation of comprehensive training proposals for teachers, the equipment needs in schools, until the review of gamified teaching strategies to take account of the diversity in the classroom.