PEMBELAJARAN BERBASIS PERMAINAN DIGITAL DINDING KATA UNTUK MENINGKATKAN PENGUASAAN KOSAKATA SISWA KELAS DELAPAN DI SMPN 2 LABOBO

Nurhayati A. Ahdani (A121 22 184). “Digital Game-Based Learning Wodwall
to Improve Vocabulary Mastery of Grade Eight Student at SMPN 2 Labobo”.
Skripsi, English Education Study Program, Language and Arts Department, Faculty
of Teacher Training and Education, Tadulako University. Under the supervision of
Zarkiani Hasyim, S.Pd., M.Pd and Drs. Mochtar Marchum, M.Ed., Ph.D.

This research investigates the effect of Wordwall on students’ vocabulary mastery
in learning English at SMPN 2 Labobo. Students still face difficulties in mastering
English vocabulary, particularly in rural schools with limited learning resources and
low learning motivation. Therefore, engaging and interactive learning media are
needed to support vocabulary mastery. Previous studies have shown that Wordwall
is effective in improving students’ vocabulary mastery. However, limited research
has explored its use in rural schools with restricted technological resources. This
research employed a pre-experimental design with a one-group pre-test and posttest approach to measure the improvement of students’ vocabulary mastery after the
implementation of Wordwall. The participants consisted of 19 eight grade students
who took part of six meetings over four weeks. The findings showed a significant
improvement, with pre-test mean scores rising from 36.63 to 72.16 post-test (gain
of 35.53 points), and a paired t-test confirming statistical significance (t = -10.809,
p = 0.000). The findings highlight Wordwall's potential to enhance engagement and
retention in under-resourced settings, offering pedagogical implications for
integrating digital tools in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) instruction.
However, limitations include a small sample size and lack of a control group,
suggesting the need for further research with larger scales.

Keywords: Vocabulary mastery, Digital game-based learning, Wordwall, EFL
students, and Rural school