A systematic literature review of the global experience of applying the gamification approach in teaching school geography
Shernay N. Issakov Y. Ussenov N. Aubakirova G. Bakirbayeva P. Kadirbayeva D. Assen N. Nizamatdinova Z. Gajić T. Lóránt D.D.
2026Frontiers Media SA
Frontiers in Education
2026#11
The rapid development of innovative learning technologies in recent years has served as a basis for the transition from traditional teaching methods to interactive, learner-centered approaches. Among such methods, gamification is recognized as a promising pedagogical tool aimed at increasing students’ interest, motivation and engagement in learning. This article proposes a systematic literature review (SLR) of research on the use of gamification in school geography teaching. This review followed the PRISMA protocol and PICOS criteria to ensure transparency and reproducibility. The purpose of the study-Evaluating the effectiveness and directions of gamification in geography lessons and identifying problems arising in the process of its implementation in practice. The research was based on the PRISMA methodology. The search in the international databases Scopus and Google Scholar initially resulted in 22,712 documents. After refining the search, duplicates and irrelevant papers were excluded and 40 scientific articles published between 2019 and 2024 were analyzed in depth. VOSviewer software was used to visualize bibliometric connections and thematic clusters. The results showed that gamification has a positive effect on students’ cognitive development, motivation and spatial reasoning. However, the use of subject-specific digital tools, adapting content to match students’ learning styles, and assessing long-term changes in motivation have not been sufficiently explored. Experience with interactive maps, mobile applications and VR/AR technologies, especially in geography, is rare. Infrastructure, teacher training and challenges of adaptation in rural school settings also require attention. The results show that gamification has a positive effect on students’ motivation and cognitive development, but the limitations are related to the small number of empirical studies and insufficient representation of developing countries. Future research should evaluate the long-term effects of gamification and the possibilities of its wider application in geography teaching. Copyright
cognitive development , game elements , gamification approach , school geography , systematic literature review
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Department of Geography and Ecology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Geography, Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Department of Geography, Land Management and Cadastre, Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Department of Geography, Faculty of Biology and Geography, Karaganda University Named After Academician E.A. Buketov, Karaganda, Kazakhstan
Department International Relations and Tourism, Faculty of Business and Tourism, Yessenov University, Aktau, Kazakhstan
Geographical Institute “Jovan Cvijić” Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Belgrade, Serbia
Faculty of Organizational Studies, EDUKA University, University Business Academy in Novi Sad, Belgrade, Serbia
Department of Tourism, Faculty of Economics, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Astana, Kazakhstan
Department of Tourism and Hospitality, Faculty of Economics and Business, John von Neumann University, Kecskemét, Hungary
Department of Tourism and Hospitality, Institute of Rural Development and Sustainable Economy, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE), Gödöllõ, Hungary
Savaria Department of Business Economics, Savaria University Centre, Faculty of Social Sciences, Eötvös Loránd University, Szombathely, Hungary
Department of Tourism and Hospitality, Kautz Gyula Faculty of Business and Economics, Széchenyi István University, Gyõr, Hungary
Department of Geography and Ecology
Department of Geography
Department of Geography
Department International Relations and Tourism
Geographical Institute “Jovan Cvijić” Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts
Faculty of Organizational Studies
Department of Tourism
Department of Tourism and Hospitality
Department of Tourism and Hospitality
Savaria Department of Business Economics
Department of Tourism and Hospitality
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