JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Physical education (PE) programs are increasingly using gamification to boost engagement and learning. This study investigates the effect of gamified physical education on students' cognitive performance, with a particular focus on intrinsic motivation and the use of AI-based Feedback. Motivation and learning theories underpin the research. The research addresses a gap in knowledge about how technologically sophisticated and pedagogically innovative physical education environments impact the cognitive development of school-aged children. Secondary school students aged 10–18 in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Guangzhou provided 1,029 valid responses to a standardized questionnaire. Following ethical guidelines for dealing with younger participants, trained facilitators accompanied 10–12-year-olds as they completed survey questions to ensure accuracy and comprehension. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The outcomes illustrated that gamified PE strongly predicted cognitive ability (β = 0.34, p < 0.001), validating its crucial position in influencing students' mental outcomes. Similarly, teacher support (β = 0.31, p < 0.001), enjoyment of physical activity (β = 0.28, p < 0.001), and the ability to work in group environments (β = 0.26, p < 0.001) all indicated significant and statistically significant influences on cognitive development. The moderation study found that AI-based Feedback, when combined with real-time adaptive feedback mechanisms, improves the positive effects of gamification on cognitive performance in physical education (β = 0.18, p < 0.001). A bootstrapping mediation reveals that intrinsic motivation mediates the relationship between gamified physical education and cognitive performance. Gamification improves cognition via psychological processes (indirect impact = 0.21, SE = 0.05, 95% CI [0.12, 0.31]). These findings show how technological feedback, social dynamics, emotional engagement, and instructional design improve student success. This study offers practical and theoretical insights into how gamification, rewards, and AI-based teaching components can enhance cognitive performance in the PE classroom. The study suggests interactive, student-centered, technology-based classrooms to help students fulfill their academic and cognitive potential.