Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.31724/rihjj.46.2.23
Gamification of Croatian Web Dictionary – Mrežnik
Josip Mihaljević
orcid.org/0000-0002-7482-7663
; Institut za hrvatski jezik i jezikoslovlje, Zagreb
Abstract
Web dictionaries sometimes contain multimedia such as games. Games usually accompany lexicographic works for children and can appear on special optical media. Now, most multimedia content accompanying the content of lexicographic works is published online. Examples of dictionaries that have games for learning vocabulary are Merriam-Webster dictionaries; in Croatia, games come on CD with the printed First School Dictionary, while online games accompany the First Croatian Orthography Manual. There is also a link to a typing game on the site of the Croatian Archive Dictionary. Unfortunately, most dictionary websites do not contain entertaining educational content such as games to help their users learn certain words, different forms of words, semantic and syntactic relations between words, spelling, pronunciation, etc. Gamification is a process in which gaming mechanics and elements are applied to a non-gaming situation to make it more entertaining. This paper explains the process of gamifying the dictionary content of the Croatian Web Dictionary – Mrežnik. Gamification is conducted by using games for learning orthography, grammar (phonology, morphology, syntax), vocabulary, and culture. Many different games are implemented into the dictionary structure. These games include quizzes, memory games, crossword puzzles, drag-and-drop games etc. The technological solutions used to develop these games are explained. Other gamification elements that can be implemented into online dictionaries, such as badges for successfully finding words or leaderboards in competitive games are also presented.
Keywords
educational games; electronic dictionaries; gamification; language learning; websites
Hrčak ID:
245475
URI
Publication date:
30.10.2020.
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