Juegos cooperativos en las habilidades sociales en estudiantes de educación general básica media

Abstract

This research explores the influence of cooperative games on the development of social skills (such as communication, teamwork, empathy, and inclusion) in middle school students at "Juan Pablo II" Educational Unit, located in the city of Ambato, during the academic period from September 2024 to February 2025. This topic is significant due to its contribution to students' social and emotional development, fostering positive interactions, collaborative work, and a culture of equity within the school environment. The main objective of the study was to analyse how cooperative games impact the strengthening of social skills. A quantitative approach was employed, using a preexperimental, longitudinal, and field-based design, complemented by analyticalsynthetic methods and the Student's t-test, with a significance level of P≤0.05. Initially, students' social skills were assessed using the EHS Test, identifying deficiencies in key areas: effective communication (mean score of 2.4), teamwork (3.1), empathy (2.7), and inclusion (2.9). Subsequently, an intervention based on cooperative games was implemented, designed to foster group interaction and cohesion among participants. At the end of the intervention period, the results showed significant improvement in all evaluated areas. In effective communication, students achieved a mean score of 4.5 (high level), in teamwork 4.7 (high level), in empathy 4.2 (medium-high level), and in inclusion 4.8 (high level). These improvements demonstrate that cooperative games are an effective pedagogical strategy for enhancing social skills. Moreover, the implementation of these activities promoted a dynamic and motivating learning environment, where students actively participated and developed key social competencies. This approach not only improved social skills but also created an inclusive and respectful space where every student could contribute individually. In conclusion, cooperative games are an integral educational tool that strengthens students' social skills while fostering positive attitudes and meaningful learning. Their application in the classroom contributes to the holistic development of children, promoting healthy interpersonal relationships, inclusion, and a values-based education.