Using Gamification to Teach English to Students with Disabilities

We applied for this project because there is a clear and urgent need to improve access to quality English language education for students with disabilities. English as a Foreign Language (EFL) is essential for academic success, employability, and social participation, yet learners with disabilities often face significant barriers due to a lack of adapted teaching methods and inclusive digital tools. While gamification and mobile applications have been proven to enhance engagement in mainstream classrooms, such innovations are rarely designed with accessibility in mind. At the same time, teachers face challenges in addressing the diverse needs of mixed-ability groups. Many EFL teachers lack resources and training to adapt their methods to inclusive classrooms. There is a strong demand for tools that enable them to personalize learning, motivate students, and integrate interactive approaches while also strengthening their own professional competences. The project addresses these needs by creating an accessible gamification platform, mobile app and OER that will support both students and teachers. Learners will benefit from engaging, motivating, and inclusive digital learning opportunities, while teachers will gain innovative method.

By implementing this project, we wanted to improve learning outcomes for students with disabilities by providing accessible, gamified digital tools for English learning, while also promoting social inclusion and ensuring that no learner is excluded from classroom life. At the same time, the project seeks to support digital transformation in education by developing innovative mobile applications, gamification platforms, and Open Educational Resources that can be applied in formal and non-formal contexts. Another key goal is to strengthen the professional profiles of both pre-service and in-service teachers by equipping them with practical tools and methods for inclusive teaching, enabling them to build competences in motivation, communication, teamwork, and adaptability. Ultimately, the project aims to ensure equal access to quality education for disadvantaged learners and to inspire systemic change in EFL education by showing how innovation, technology, and inclusion can be successfully combined.

During the implementation of the project, all the tasks indicated in the application were carried out and the objectives were achieved. A high-quality study was conducted, including desk research and focus groups with students, teachers, and parents of children with special needs such as dyslexia, intellectual disability, hearing, and visual impairments. Based on this research, a learning platform was developed in the Moodle environment and adapted for all target group students, and a mobile application was created to help students reinforce the knowledge acquired in English lessons. At the same time, all management and dissemination tasks included in the project were successfully implemented.

During the implementation of the project, all the tasks outlined in the application were successfully carried out and the planned objectives were fully achieved. A comprehensive study was conducted, combining desk research with focus groups involving students, teachers, and parents of children with special educational needs, focusing on groups specified in the project description—children with dyslexia, intellectual disabilities, as well as hearing and visual impairments. Based on the results of this research, three main tangible outcomes were developed: first, a detailed study providing insights into the needs and challenges of the target groups; second, a Moodle-based learning platform, carefully adapted to meet the requirements of all target group students and provide inclusive opportunities to learn English; and third, a mobile application designed to allow students to practice and consolidate the knowledge acquired in English lessons in an engaging and flexible way. In parallel, all project management and dissemination tasks were effectively carried out, ensuring proper coordination, communication, and visibility of the project and its results.