Gamification in learning can be understood as the process of introducing game-based mechanics and features into the learning systems of your organization to create real-life experiences that are similar to those of playing games. It has been known to motivate learners — resulting in increased user engagement and interaction.
Some of the leading learning management systems, like Adobe Captivate Prime, offer features like badges, reward points, and leader boards that allow organizations to not only to foster a healthy competition among their members — but also to tap into their creative sides. However, a lot of organizations still don’t choose gamification as a feasible option — instead they focus on the expense, in terms of both money and the time involved in developing gamification.
There are many sound reasons to integrate gamification features in your learning practices to make them more effective.
Make Boring Sessions Fun
Whether in school or the workplace, either online or offline, for a majority of people, training is always boring and stressful. It is very likely that your students or employees have also developed the feeling that school or work is just something that has to be endured. Such an attitude is often unproductive for both students and workers alike. Gamification offers a way to change this — by adding a touch of fun to seemingly plain and boring sessions. Reward points and badges can increase willingness to participate and engage. It is one way to encourage people to do and learn things that they otherwise might not want to do.
Improve Learning Environments
The pandemic dramatically altered our school and work environments. However, even with online connections, our human interactions and relationships remain paramount. Gamification allows organizations to offer effective and interactive instruction or training even with remote delivery. It helps learners to gain real-life experiences and problem-solving skills in novel and interesting ways.
Boost Motivation
Gamification gives you the power to turn any mundane task into a fun and interesting — helping to remove fears of failure or poor performance from the minds of your students or employees. A more relaxed approach toward learning increases motivation to participate. This sort of environment increases both the productivity of students and teachers — as well as workers and their supervisors — in totality, a school or company as a whole.
Increase Engagement
The basic intention behind creating a game is to grab attention and keep people coming back for more. Imagine adding those features and mechanisms to your employee training or learning practices. Gamification will not only make your learners enjoy their time — but also wait eagerly for the next event.
Inspire Personal Initiatives
We all have an inner desire to be curious and learn — but this initiate human drive can be disrupted in some by traditional learning methods. Gamification is a solution for many people to reconnect with their natural desire for education by making learning a fun activity.
Influence Your Culture
Gamification helps you change the “have to” into the “want to.” This shifts the motivation to undertake tasks and responsibilities to something done willingly — rather than events that are stressful or boring. Gamified practices not only make people enjoy learning — but also their desire to work with the people delivering these practices. Gamification can significantly improve the atmosphere and work culture of your school or organization.
Now, Go Gamify!
Gamification is one the most effective ways to make your learning practices and systems more interactive and engaging. Implementing gamified programs creates many advantages and benefits for both trainers and trainees — or teachers and students. More and more schools, companies, and other organizations have found success with gamification to improve the productivity of their teams — and it is something you should consider too — for the benefit of your people.
