Enhancing Student Engagement and Conceptual Understanding of Lunar Cycles Through Moon Phases Bingo

Science Education

Lunar cycles have captivated humanity for centuries, influencing both artistic expression and scientific inquiry. Despite their significance, many students struggle to understand the underlying principles of moon phases, often leading to misconceptions that hinder their grasp of fundamental astronomical concepts. This study investigates the effectiveness of Moon Phases Bingo, a gamified educational approach, in enhancing student engagement and comprehension of lunar cycles among first-year secondary education science majors at North Eastern Mindanao State University-Lianga Campus. Utilizing a mixed-methods design, the involves pretests and posttests with qualitative insights from focus group discussions. Results indicate a significant increase in students’ conceptual understanding, as evidenced by an improvement from a pretest mean score of 60.77% (near mastery) to a posttest mean score of 80% (mastery). The normalized gain score further supports this finding, demonstrating effective knowledge retention and engagement. The thematic analysis reveals that students experienced heightened motivation, collaborative learning opportunities, and a more profound understanding of lunar mechanics through the game. This study contributes valuable insights into the application of gamification in science education, highlighting its potential to address persistent misconceptions and promote scientific literacy, particularly in under-resourced educational settings. By empowering educators with innovative teaching strategies, this research aims to foster curiosity and enhance the overall quality of astronomy education.

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