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Abstract
Engineering students frequently face challenges in mastering technical English vocabulary due to its context-dependent and specialized nature. To address this issue, this study developed a mobile application that facilitates self-directed learning of domain-specific vocabulary through gamified activities. The application was designed using the Flutter framework and integrated with Firebase for real-time data management and user tracking. It features two interactive games—Word Guess and Word Match—as well as text-to-speech functionality, a limited hint system, and visual progress tracking through mastery counts and progress bars. Vocabulary items are organized into three thematic categories: General Terms, Tools, and Instructions, each structured through JSON-based data management for scalability and ease of maintenance. Empirical evaluations involving expert review yielded a high validity score (M = 4.6/5), confirming the application’s pedagogical soundness and technical stability. The integration of gamification and progress visualization significantly enhanced learner motivation, autonomy, and engagement. This study contributes a replicable model for combining Flutter–Firebase development with instructional design principles to advance technology-enhanced language learning in engineering education.
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Author Contributions
Anita Nursi: Conceptualization, Methodology, Software Development (Flutter), Investigation, Writing – Original Draft, Writing – Review & Editing. Resmi Darni: Supervision, Validation, Formal Analysis, Evaluation of Pedagogical Soundness, Writing – Review & Editing. Dony Novaliendry: Supervision, Validation, Data Curation (Firebase integration), Empirical Evaluation, Writing – Review & Editing. All authors have read and approved the final version of this manuscript.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank all individuals, institutions, and external collaborators who contributed their expertise and support during the design, development, and evaluation of the mobile application.
View statement in PDF · PDF page 18Ethics Approval
This study involved human participants only in the form of expert review for evaluating the mobile application. All experts provided informed consent before participation.
View statement in PDF · PDF page 18Funding
The authors declare that this research received no external funding. All aspects of the study, including app development (using Flutter and Firebase), gamification design, and expert validation, were conducted independently without financial support from any organization.
View statement in PDF · PDF page 18Competing Interests
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
View statement in PDF · PDF page 18Generative AI Disclosure
During the preparation of this manuscript, the authors utilized ChatGPT-4o and Grammarly to improve clarity, readability, and coherence. ChatGPT-4o assisted in refining explanations related to instructional design, gamification, and empirical evaluation, while Grammarly helped identify and correct grammar, punctuation, and style issues. All content, interpretations, and conclusions were independently verified and manually edited by the authors.
View statement in PDF · PDF page 18References
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Copyright and License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2025 Anita Nursi, Resmi Darni, Dony Novaliendry