Gamification in Education: Is it Really Helping Students?

Gamification in education is a valuable engagement tool. It extends a host of advantages for students. Because it helps in improving their overall engagement by creating extrinsic motivators. With the decreasing rates of the human attention span (only an average of 47 seconds on one screen). And the never-ending challenges of traditional classrooms, there is always a need to look beyond the conventional pedagogies.

Game-based elements create a visible impact in reducing student problems. But many of us do not know how to make use of the gamified design for student success. This article will take you through this popular technique. And how it can be used as a tool to facilitate learning.

Read On!

What is Gamification in Education?

In layman’s terms, gamification is the process in which we add game-like elements to improve the student’s participation. Another way of understanding this term is that game-based learning includes the designs of games in a non-game environment.

Benefits of Gamification

Improves Focus

In today’s age and date, students find it difficult to focus. Because they spend a very long time of the day on electronic devices.

The average screen time was up to 9 hours in 2020.

The Need for Additional Motivation

Be it worksheets, assignments, or tests, students always need to be motivated to study. In many cases, a student’s level of motivation is a major hindrance to his/her academic performance. As a result, there is a visible gap between the actual potential and the academic performance of the student. Gamification in education boosts the student’s motivation to push his/her skills further. In addition, it also extends opportunities to promote positive behavioral change.

Positive Student Response

A survey proves that game-based learning proved highly engaging and enjoyable for 75% of the respondents. This proves that the motivational properties of gamification like badges and achievements boost the student’s motivation levels. And the reward system created through these elements creates an effective pedagogy wherein, students return to explore more rewards and surpass the regular levels of learning. The technique to gamify made a visible difference mostly in a positive sense.

Surveys found that game-based learning enjoyable

How is Gamification Used in Education?

Stakeholders enhance the student’s learning experience by incorporating game elements in a number of ways. Some of these are as under:

Reward system – This is an excellent way of motivating students to achieve better targets. Giving scores, badges, leaderboards, points, etc. help students in meeting their academic goals. In addition, these strategies are also helpful in eliminating barriers to learning (like lack of interest, demotivation, etc.).

The use of multiple apps/educational content- In this digitalized world, the use of educational content/applications with game elements boosts the student’s success. This extends the learning opportunities beyond the vicinity and fixed timetables of a traditional classroom. The idea to gamify learning allows students to continue their learning at any time or place. Many schools (like online schools or top traditional institutions) and stakeholders promote the use of educational apps to add the dimension of fun into the learning process.

Informal assessments and sharing results- Varied forms of informal asessments like quizzes, puzzles, projects, and activities, etc. are highly effective to add game elements to learning.

Is Game-Based Learning Better Than The Traditional Non-Game Environment?

Academicians and psychologists have proved that game-based learning is a popular form that almost replaces conventional methods. In other words, these are dramatic models that can release particular tension from our psychological lives. For many reasons like these, a game-based learning environment is a perfect resolution to improve student engagement and participation in his/her learning process. Other than this, the benefits of gamification in education also transform academic programs from being content-focused to learning oriented.

The ZWERM Project Example:

A related project (ZWERM) proves the effectiveness of a gamified design in improving engagement. This project was created to address certain social problems in a neighborhood. And it had game-based elements. By the end of it, the participants in this project developed a sense of belongingness. And successfully demonstrated a sense of shared ownership as well. Game-based elements proved highly beneficial to solve the targeted social problem in this project. And the weightage of impact it created was stupendous in bringing the city dwellers together.

75% of these participants felt a sense of belongingness.
80% agreed that the project helped in the integration of the local community.

What is an Example of Gamification in Education?

Apps and Digital Content

The best example to understand the approach to gamified learning is the growing use of teaching and learning apps. In the present times, these tools are not limited to the online learning platforms of top online schools. The evident advantages to gamify learning have created a paradigm of incorporating these elements into regular teaching and learning tools as well. In fact, these learning apps are one of the fastest-growing categories in the global eLearning market.

Educational institutions gamify the student’s learning experience through the power of digitalization. This approach allows students to develop thinking, and problem-solving skills. And engages them through quizzes, interesting puzzles, and challenges that have a reward system attached to them. Some of these apps also have a trophy/reward at the end of the challenge. All this motivates the students to cross each level/progress bar. And eventually leads to an enhanced learning experience.

Now that we know about game-based elements, let’s explore some ways that help in gamifying a classroom experience.

What are some Popular Ways to Gamify Classroom?

Blended Learning

Most of us are already aware of the unique benefits of models like hybrid and blended learning. These models are highly popular in the post-pandemic era.

You can read a detailed write-up on the effectiveness of blended learning Here :- Blended Learning: What Is It And How Does It Work?

The elements of gamified learning contribute to the effectiveness of these approaches. And the integration of artificial intelligence takes the student’s experience to the next level. Here’s an example:

Gamified Micro Learning

Microlearning is a popular pedagogy that is meant to deliver content with a short duration. By adding game-based elements, we can reach out to the target audience better. And this pedagogy is highly effective to cascade complex topics better in less time.

<Do read our article about the trend of MicroLearning and it’s astonishing advantages for students>

Short-duration content in the form of game-based learning with a reward system is a wonderful way to improve the student’s participation. Because it helps him/her to reach the desired milestones. And sustains the student’s interest levels throughout the duration.

Before wrapping up let’s take you through some of the trends of the education gamification market to give you a glimpse of its future projections.

What is Gamification Technique in Teaching?

The use of game elements in teaching supports the entire process. It improves the classroom environment. And also instills a sense of purse in students. Other than these benefits, this technique also helps students to develop a sense of healthy competition.

Trends of the Education Gamification Market

Digital Learning Tools-

As of 2019, 85% of the teachers in the USA reported the most popular use of digital tools to practice something that was learned in the classroom.

percentage of student use gamification in class for learning

Gamification market value-

As per sources, the global gamification market will see a greater growth rate with an estimated mark of $58.8 billion (by the year 2028). This will mean a raising market growth rate of 26.8% CAGR during this period.

With the numerous benefits of gamified learning, there are some downsides too.

Let’s look at these before we conclude this write-up.

The Downsides of Gamification in Education

Most of the gamified elements depend on the availability of network, platforms, devices, etc. It also requires a proper system, failing which, it can interrupt the learning process. Other than these challenges, these elements require a well-trained teaching faculty to help students make the most of it.

Final Thoughts

In this age and date, gamified learning is certainly an integral part of the teaching and learning process. It is a wonderful way of improving the scope of our teaching and learning processes. And has the power of improving the defined learning objectives.

We hope this information was useful for you.

Unfold the realm of gaming for your students. And watch them complete the learning milestones effortlessly while having fun!

Thanks for Reading!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is gamification?
Broadly, gamification is to incorporate the elements of a game to enhance learning and break the monotony of conventional methods.

What are the benefits of gamification?
With the use of gamification in education, we can improve a student’s overall level of engagement and participation. These elements also help in making the student intrinsically motivated to learn without any external drive.

What are some ways to gamify a classroom?
We can make use of game themes, incorporate learning milestones with a reward system (like badges, trophies or hearts, etc.), and also make use of artificial intelligence or augmented reality to the educational activities.

Which are the most popular educational apps that are based on a game’s theme?
Duolingo is one of the top-rank learning and education apps with game elements with around 98 million downloads. Another educational app with game elements that have reached a mark of around 72 million downloads is Toca Life World (statistics as of 2022)

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