What is Gamification in E-Learning?

Game on!

If you’ve ever had to sit through an hours-long lecture or scroll through pages and pages of an online course, you understand the cost of a boring learning experience. This type of learning isn’t just lackluster—it’s hard to pay attention to and can make information harder to retain. 

Gamified e-learning was built to solve this problem. By weaving game-like elements into an online learning environment, gamification not only helps learners engage with the material—it can also make learning fun. In this post, we’ll break down gamification in e-learning, explore gamification examples, and explain how this strategy can benefit both learners and organizations. 

Looking for more strategies for creating gamified e-learning? Check out our in-depth guide to gamification.

What is gamified learning? 

Gamified learning, or game-based learning, is applying game mechanics to the learning experience. For example, a lesson might contain storytelling elements that entertain learners while walking them through relevant learning scenarios. Or, the course might contain gamification elements like a leaderboard, badges, or rewards.

You can find these types of learning experiences in both physical classrooms and online courses. Gamification can be a valuable resource for helping learners engage with the material and with each other, even from different locations.

Quais são os benefícios do e-learning gamificado? 

The most important benefit of gamification in e-learning is to increase engagement. By making learning more entertaining, gamification can motivate learners to complete lessons and help them retain information more effectively. 

The other benefits of using gamification will vary depending on the specific learning scenario. For example, a classroom using gamified e-learning for an important lesson might notice improvements in students’ essay writing skills on that topic. A workplace using gamification in an important training might observe higher customer satisfaction scores. Meanwhile, an app that teaches users a particular skill might see higher user retention and satisfaction rates.

3 strategies for achieving learning objectives with gamification

Embora as estratégias de gamificação do seu e-learning variem conforme o público e o conteúdo abordado, há algumas boas práticas que sempre valem a pena adotar em qualquer situação. Experimente essas técnicas de gamificação para incentivar os alunos a participarem e se envolverem com o conteúdo.

1. Construa uma narrativa convincente

Muitos dos melhores jogos usam narrativas para cativar os participantes e envolvê-los no universo do jogo. O mesmo vale para o contexto educacional —cenários de e-learning são uma forma eficaz de ilustrar problemas comuns e permitir que os alunos pratiquem situações reais em um ambiente de baixo risco. 

To amp up the compelling nature of your course, take notes from your favorite story-based games. Consider creating different characters in your course, and making your learners the protagonist. You might design an interactive map that learners can explore, reinforcing the course material while also entertaining with world-building elements. You can even frame different lessons as “chapters” in a story, dividing up your narrative and ending lessons on cliffhangers to entice learners to keep playing. 

2. Adicione interatividade significativa

A interatividade é um dos elementos mais importantes do e-learning eficaz, e o mesmo vale para o e-learning gamificado. Permitir que os alunos façam escolhas ao longo de uma aula ajuda a exercitar habilidades e a fixar o conteúdo. 

Explore the interactivity options your learning platform offers. Experiment and play with animations, hotspots, drag-and-drop interactions, flashcards, and more.

3. Estimule com recompensas, pontos e rankings

Esteja você na sala de aula ou no local de trabalho, uma pequena dose saudável de competição pode tornar a aprendizagem ainda mais estimulante para o seu público. 

Points-based systems where learners can can be a fun way to go about this. Or, you might add a leaderboard to your course that shows the scores of different participants, allowing them to see how their performance stacks up against their peers. You can even consider allowing learners to earn badges or simple rewards when they complete certain learning milestones. 

Todas essas estratégias podem ser formas envolventes de motivar os alunos a continuarem aprendendo e mantendo o foco no processo.

Engaje os alunos com elementos de gamificação

Game-based learning can be a valuable tool for increasing engagement for your learners, allowing for greater knowledge retention, participation and satisfaction. Consider incorporating elements of storytelling, interactivity, and competition into your e-learning courses to make learning more enjoyable—and effective—for your audience.

To learn more about creating gamified learning experiences with Articulate, read our full guide.