The role of emotions in the educational context is one of the lines of research that has generated most interest in recent years. This study explores the level of emotional intelligence (EI) and motivation towards studying of primary school (PS) students, as well as the relationship between both variables. For this, a quasi-experimental design has been used with an accidental sample of 541 students from public centers in the province of Pontevedra (Spain). The instruments used were a School Motivation Scale and an EI questionnaire for primary school students, based on the five areas of Goleman EI. The results maintain a mid to high level of EI in all of the factors (self-conscience, self-control, emotional use, empathy and social skills) and a good level of academic motivation. Therefore, they show a positive and significant correlation of both variables. Girls have a higher emotional intelligence index and there is no difference in academic motivation in terms of gender. Based on these results, it is suggested to implement programs that consolidate emotional competences given their importance in the psychoevolutionary development of students and their relationship with academic motivation.

Gamification refers to the use of game mechanics in non-recreational environments, such as the school environment, in order to enhance motivation, concentration, effort, commitment and other positive values common to all games. Gamification allows us to establish clear objectives that are presented to be overcome. It also offers constant feedback, shows the progression of students, recognizes their effort and it guides them over the course of the teaching and learning process. The aim is to measure the knowledge of future teachers about gamification as a didactic resource. The sample is composed of 164 students of the Degree in Primary Education in Galicia (Spain). The scale obtains a reliability of 0.94 α. The index of Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) provides a value of 0.932 and Bartlett’s test of sphericity (χ2 = 2739,793; gl = 351, p < .000), ensuring that the factor analysis is right, and the model achieves a good fit. The students of the Degree in Primary Education have not heard of the term gamification, but still consider feasible its implementation in the school environment. The students feel that they don’t know enough about this teaching resource, and they are afraid of not achieving the curricular objectives using it as they have no control over the content to be taught.