Gamification and Using Game Mechanics for Learning: A Brighter Future?

Summary

It is predicted that by 2025 over 70% of the global workforce will consist of Millennials and Gen Z, generations who have had a technology-centric upbringing as digital natives. What could hold their interest? What could engage them? What could feed their competitive spirits? Gamification? Possibly, in several aspects of their lives, including in their learning experiences. So, yes. Gamification could come front stage and shine bright as the go-to approach for education and learning.

Workplace dynamics back gamification

The challenge of keeping a young, dispersed team engaged and motivated keeping in mind productivity requirements still remains with most organizations, even as debates have begun on the efficacy of getting the workforce back on site. Individuals by choice and organizations by insight are choosing to adopt or stay hybrid. Thus, with workplace learning needing to stay online, engagement and interest, two of the requirements for effective learning are easily met with game mechanics or even full-fledged games.

Science backs gamification

When we do something positive, our brain releases the “feel-good” chemical, dopamine. Dopamine builds up every time we reach higher levels in a game or unlock new achievements. As we achieve small wins, there is a dopamine kick with every reward won. Our mood is upbeat! We are motivated to keep going towards the next win. Small bursts of motivation, thus, keep us going through the game experience towards the anticipated “win-state” at the end of the game. What if the game experience was a learning one? Focus and engagement coupled with fun should enable enhanced retention and retrieval making the learning effective.

Additionally, according to learning psychology experts, two learning practices, retrieval practice and spaced retrieval are foundational to effective learning and retention. The gamification platforms of today have these enabling practices built into them, making it simple to include gamification game mechanics into learning experiences.

Curated content enhanced with gamification

With content on every relevant subject appropriate for the times easily available, content curation is being adopted as an efficient method for content sharing and learning. Adding game elements to the learning experience is bound to give learners a motivational push and further enhance their social learning experiences.

With so much going for it, gamification with its tangible benefits is here to stay!

Author

admin

Multiversity