SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article
Front. Comput. Sci.
Sec. Digital Education
Volume 7 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fcomp.2025.1587040
RESEARCH AI: INTEGRATING AI AND GAMIFICATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION FOR E-LEARNING OPTIMIZATION AND SOFT SKILLS ASSESSMENT THROUGH A CROSS-STUDY SYNTHESIS
Provisionally accepted
- 1Department of Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources and Engineering Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia, Apulia, Italy
- 2Department of Computer Science, School of Science and Technology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
- 3Department of Information Science, University of North Texas, Denton, Denton, United States
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The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and gamification into higher education is reshaping educational practices by personalizing learning and fostering essential workforce skills. This study critically examines the effectiveness of these technologies, their impact on student engagement, and the factors influencing students' acceptance. A systematic literature review complemented by Topic Modeling using Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) identified key research themes. Subsequently, predictive modeling with machine learning algorithms, hyperparameter optimization, and Local Interpretable Model-Agnostic Explanations (LIME) were applied to classify academic documents and interpret influential factors. Findings indicate that AI effectively customizes educational pathways, enhancing engagement and academic performance. Gamification notably supports soft skill development, providing more interactive assessments than traditional approaches. However, challenges related to data privacy and technological accessibility remain significant, particularly affecting international students and institutions with limited resources. AI and gamification demonstrate considerable potential for transforming higher education through personalized learning and interactive skill assessments. Nevertheless, widespread adoption depends on addressing data privacy concerns and ensuring technological equity. Future research should investigate the long-term implications of these technologies in developing students' adaptability within a dynamic global workforce.
Keywords: artificial intelligence, Gamification, e-learning, Adaptive Learning, higher education
Received: 03 Mar 2025; Accepted: 18 Aug 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Marengo, Pagano, Lund and Santamato. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Agostino Marengo, Department of Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources and Engineering Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia, 71122, Apulia, Italy
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