Empowering Learners Through Game Creation: The Impact on Engagement and Attainment in Subject-Based Game Design

<ns3:p>This study examines the model of Beça et al.’s (2022) Gamer4Nature Toolkit for Game Design within a project-based learning (PBL) framework, with the goal of implementing a flipped gamification intervention to enhance engagement and attainment in vocational education and training (VET). Employing a design-based research (DBR) methodology, which is rooted in a qualitative paradigm, the study emphasises understanding real-world contexts and adapting interventions based on iterative feedback, as opposed to rigid experimental controls. This approach, incorporating classroom observations, semi-structured interviews, and reflective practices for triangulation, strengthens the credibility and reliability of the findings. This research contributes to the refinement of the flipped gamification framework and identifies critical factors influencing its effectiveness.</ns3:p>