DEVELOPMENT OF ELECTRONIC BOARD GAME TO ENHANCE DIGITAL MEDIA LITERACY AMONG THE ELDERLY IN CHANTHABURI PROVINCE

Abstract

This research was an application of microcontroller technology in collaboration with board game mechanics by building interactions through light, color and sound. Gameplay mechanics were designed based on a random reward system in order to motivate learning. The players would get moving on the board when answering the questions correctly. There were also other various auxiliary components to increase challenge and interest throughout the game. These mechanics aimed at creating positive interactions and enhancing digital media literacy absorption among the elderly.  The sample used in this research was a group of 30 elderly from Elderly School, Plap Phla subdistrict, Mueang district, Chanthaburi province gaining from simple random sampling.  The research instruments included a set of an electronic board game, a digital media literacy test and a satisfaction questionnaire with 15 items.  Statistics consisted of mean, standard deviation, percentage and statistical hypothesis testing (t-test). The results found that: 1) the quality of the electronic board game as a whole was at the excellence level ( = 4.84, SD = 0.93), 2) the elderly’s digital media literacy test score after playing the game was higher than  before playing the game with statistical significance at the .05 level, and 3) the elderly’s satisfaction towards the electronic board game to enhancing digital media literacy was at the highest level ( = 4.53, SD = 0.55). The results of the study can be summarized that the electronic board game is an effective instrument to enhance digital media literacy for the elderly.