No abstract

On the other hand, the ubiquity of digital entertainment (eg, digital games and online videos) occupies children's attention and energy, resulting in a recent decline in children's print reading for pleasure (Flood, 2015). Many children rarely read for enjoyment outside school because they lack reading motivations (Flood, 2015). Motivation is an important Abstract Gamification is becoming increasingly popular in primary education due to the widespread use of digital technology. However, gamified reading is new, and there is little empirical evidence regarding its effectiveness. The sustainability of the effects of gamification pedagogy is also in doubt as some scholars think that such effects are short-term and not sustainable. This paper presents the results of three sub-studies of examining the effects of an online gamified reading platform and the sustainability of these effects. Study 1 examined the change in students' academic performance between two groups divided based on their different participation levels. Study 2 addressed the question of how students/parents/teachers perceive students' motivation and gaining in the use of the gamified platform. Study 3 explored the sustainability of the effects of the gamified platform from a longitudinal perspective. Findings suggest that students' deep engagement in the gamified e-learning platform can help increase their reading motivation and improve their reading abilities. Such effects can be sustained for several semesters.