What is Gamification?

As generations become more tech savvy, organizations must leverage the advantages of emerging technologies. Within the sphere of education and training, one learning trend is growing more popular: gamification.

Gamification is the process of applying game-related elements to non-game contexts to augment participation, engagement and user experience. To achieve this, gamification employs a combination of the science of motivation, distributed learning and neuroscience foundations.

Applications – Gamification in Education and Gamification Training

Gamification in education is gaining traction within academic arenas. Millennials and Generation Z have grown up playing computer and video games and are more inclined to opt for experiences with game-like elements. Educators have been investigating different ways to embed games’ motivation abilities within the classroom to capitalize on these behavioral tendencies. Several medical schools have jumped on board and incorporated game-like methods into their curriculums.

Within the corporate sector, gamification is significantly impacting employee training and development, particularly because of mobile learning. HR and training departments are seeking ways to blend learning activities with game-like elements.

This tactic is increasingly important since millennials will make up 75% of the workforce by 2025. Gamification training enables learners to test out new skills in real life scenarios within a controlled environment. Sales, product support and marketing departments benefit well from gamification training.

“Gamification of learning” is an umbrella term encompassing both gamification in education and training.

Gamification of Learning Elements

It is important to note that gamification of learning is not equivalent to “game-based learning.”

Gamification uses game-based techniques to turn the entire learning process into a game. The ultimate goal is to solve a problem, motivate and promote learning. Game-based learning, however, uses learning as a portion of the game.

A few of the key game-based elements include:

• Narrative
• Learner controlled environment
• Progress rewards (points / leaderboards / badges.)
• Instantaneous feedback
• Collaborative decision-making
• Freedom to fail
• Mounting challenges
• Competitive features
• Fun
• A social component

Benefits of Gamification

The benefits of gamification abound for all organizations. Some of the most essential benefits are:

1. Increased motivation – Gamification designers harness our innate competitive spirit by including progress features, motivating learners to complete their courses.
2. Improved learning experiences and environment – Better experiences and a realistic, informal learning environment enable a higher rate of recall and retention.
3. Instant feedback – Receiving instantaneous feedback enhances retention and learner engagement.
4. Encourages active rather than passive learning – Gamification methods induce active learning for learners to build on.
5. Instigates behavioral changes – When the scientific principles of repeated retrieval and spaced repetition work simultaneously, gamification incites desired behavioral changes.
6. Transferable for most learning and training needs – Gamification elements can be applied to nearly any type of educational or training scenario, online and offline.
7. Positively impacts an organization’s bottom line – When employees are motivated and engaged, they are more productive. Gamification systems spur employees to acquire a wider variety of skills. Competency and loyalty levels increase throughout the organization, driving innovation and success.  

Current Trends in Training and Learning

In addition to video content, microlearning and social learning, gamification tops most (if not all) of the 2017 training trend lists. In fact, more than 70% of global organizations currently incorporate at least one training program with a gamified application. The number of companies engaging gamification designers services continues to rise. Lastly, the mass appeal that gamification has on the millennial segment of the workforce and the ability to control one’s own learning experiences, are two catalysts driving the trend.

Gamification is here to stay. By creating new methods of building relationships, cementing long-term engagement and driving internal and external loyalty, gamification transforms business models. As long as community, feedback, achievement and reward motivate human nature, this learning method will continue to drive success.

Contact us to learn more about how you can bring this innovative method to your organization.