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.

¿Cuáles son los beneficios de los cursos de e-learning gamificados? 

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

Aunque las estrategias que uses para gamificar tus cursos de e-learning variarán en función de tu público y del tema, hay algunas prácticas recomendadas que debes mantener en cuenta pase lo que pase. Experimenta con estas técnicas de gamificación para animar al alumnado a participar y comprometerse con tu material.

1. Construye una narrativa convincente

Muchos de los mejores juegos usan la narración para cautivar a los participantes y sumergirlos en el mundo del juego. Esto también es verdadero en un contexto educativo—los cursos de e-learning son una forma clave de ilustrar problemas comunes y permitir al alumnado practicar situaciones de la vida real en un entorno de bajo riesgo. 

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. Agrega una interactividad significativa

La interactividad es uno de los elementos más importantes de los cursos de e-learning eficaces, y lo mismo ocurre con los cursos de e-learning gamificados. Hacer que el alumnado tome decisiones a medida que avanza en una lección les ayuda a practicar sus habilidades y recordar el contenido. 

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

3. Atrae con recompensas, puntos y tableros de clasificación

Ya sea que estés en un aula o en el lugar de trabajo, una pequeña dosis de sana competencia puede hacer que el aprendizaje sea aún más emocionante para tu audiencia. 

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 estas pueden ser formas entretenidas de motivar al alumnado a seguir aprendiendo y mantener su atención.

Atrae al alumnado con elementos de gamificación

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.