Ever since its introduction, e-Learning has continually improved, with new elements being added regularly. One of the most notable additions of recent time is gamification. Similar to its application in other areas of activity, gamification in e-Learning aims to increase engagement and make it more exciting to the learners.
How to Implement Gamification in E-Learning
The concept used in implementing gamification determines its impact on an e-Learning environment. A practical gamification concept must capture and retain the attention of the learner. Without concentration, the learner will gain nothing.
Additionally, the concept should be challenging; Integrating challenges into an e-Learning program motivates the participants to take the course more seriously. Nobody like failing, so challenges inspire the learners to work harder.
The primary goal of gamification in e-Learning is to increase engagement and making the activity more exciting. A boring and dull learning module will certainly turn students away. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, the gamified eLearning program should be informative. Education always seeks to improve knowledge, so students should be able to learn new information from a gamified learning environment.
The Benefits of Gamification in eLearning
Integrating gamification into e-Learning has the following advantages:
Exciting Learning Experience
The most obvious advantage of gamifying e-Learning is that it adds fun to the experience. Learners get to explore their potential and develop their skills as they progress through the course. Essentially, gamification adds excitement to programs that are usually dull and boring.
Better Learning Environment
Gamification in e-Learning provides a productive learning environment with lesser formalities. Learners can freely practice real-life situations and challenges on a safe platform.
It also provides an aura of positivity that improves a learner’s enthusiasm and interest in the course. This creates an engaging learning experience that enhances the retention of knowledge.
Increased Motivation
Overcoming an in-game challenge motivates the player to keep on playing until they complete the entire game. The same applies to gamified e-Learning environments. When a learner overcomes a challenge, they get the encouragement to persist through until they master the whole program. Increased motivation also improves knowledge retention.
Instant Feedbacks
Learners can easily track their progress thanks to instant feedbacks provide in a gamified e-Learning platform. The system frequently informs the learner what they already know and what they should learn, which increases engagement and the ability to recall.
Prompts Behavioural Changes
The gaming elements of gamification such as scoring points, getting badges and leaderboards add excitement to eLearning. However, there is much more to gamification, as it can prompt significant behavioural changes when combined with the scientific principles of spaced repetition and repeated retrieval.
Improved Teamwork
Gamification encourages interaction among learners through challenges and competitions. As a result, it significantly improves collaboration and communication and cultivates a culture of team building among the participants of an eLearning program. If implemented within an organisation, it strengthens the relationships between the co-workers.
Applicable In Several Areas
Gamification is applicable in many areas of e-Learning. In a company setting, it can be useful in induction, onboarding, creating awareness, and encouraging compliance, and so on.
Gamification in eLearning
There are two primary methods of implementing gamification in e-Learning – complete gamification and partial gamification.
Complete Gamification
In complete gamification, the learning content features tasks and concepts that are not related to it. Users have to complete the challenges that come with these concepts to progress on the next module in the course. In some rare cases, the overlaid tasks and concepts can be contextual.
Partial Gamification
Partial gamification refers to a case where game mechanics are featured at the end of the course or a few designated points.
Despite their difference, both partial and complete gamification techniques encompass the same elements: they both seek to improve engagement and add the element of fun to the e-Learning experience.
Is Gamified eLearning just for Kids?
Since it emphases on fun and excitement, gamification in e-Learning can be mistaken as a concept that targets the younger population. The truth is, if learners are having a great time and are enjoying their training, they are more likely to understand the subject and retain the acquired knowledge for extended periods, regardless of age.
Additionally, learning is not exclusive to children. Adults can benefit from building on their knowledge as well. For instance, a company can decide to adopt gamified training to improve the engagement between its employees and their job. In exchange, the firm will benefit from more productive and satisfied workers.
Conclusion
Gamification in e-Learning has numerous advantages, some of which are not superficial. For instance, applying game mechanics to learning improves non-cognitive skills such as patience and discipline, which are nearly impossible to acquire from a traditional classroom setup. Other attributes that gamification improves include risk-taking and problem-solving. All of these are invaluable in building character.