Integrating technology into ESP instruction: a case study with Educaplay

Abstract

The constant change that characterizes modern society and its way of living affects the approach to the teaching-learning process in higher education. More and more educators are looking for alternatives to traditional teaching by introducing different digital tools to make this process more effective, appealing, and autonomous. This study focuses on Educaplay (https://www.educaplay.com), a popular online digital tool used by numerous teachers worldwide. Its objective is to discover if Educaplay can help to improve language acquisition and enhance motivation among Spanish undergraduates studying English for Specific Purposes (ESP) in the degree in Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, and Architecture at the Catholic University of Murcia. The results obtained from tests and a questionnaire with 82 respondents point to the success of Educaplay, which has contributed in a very positive way to the learning of content seen in the subject, has assisted in making the course more enjoyable and attractive, and improved students’ motivation. 84% of respondents would like to use Educaplay in other subjects of the degree, and 58% believe that technology-enhanced language learning is the direction that teaching should take. In conclusion Educaplay is recommended to be used in ESP teaching at tertiary level.