Gamification in the Classroom: Benefits

Gamification has many benefits like this in the classroom.

• Students feel that they are in control of their learning
• Learning can be done again, creating a more relaxed environment for failure.
• Classroom fun is more enjoyable
• Progress indicators make learning visible
• Students might discover an intrinsic motivation to learn
• Students can explore different identities by using different characters or avatars
• Gaming environments are often more inviting for students, who are often more open to learning and more willing to make mistakes.
• Students are more engaged and have higher concentrations
• This is your chance to think outside the box. Tasks no longer require you to fill out a worksheet. What are the more ‘gamified» consequences of tasks?

Is gamification effective?

Gamification has been proven to be extremely effective in both educational and e-learning settings. It can also be used by corporate companies to train employees.

Gamification is a good idea for these reasons:

• Games are designed to meet basic needs (autonomy and competence, value etc.).
• Games may be social. For example, leaderboards or areas where high-scorers can be displayed can help players feel validated when they succeed. You may be able challenge your friends or invite other players to play.
• Games encourage continued engagement (gamification helps users retain them by encouraging them to play and earn more points, rewards or just find more information).
• It allows players (learners), to control. They feel they have complete control over their learning journey.

Gamification is a way to trigger powerful emotions like happiness, intrigue and excitement. Gamification is being used by household brands, companies, and institutions all over the globe with amazing results.

Education: Games and Education

Teachers have noticed. It doesn’t matter if you are looking for games to entertain a few students or asking everyone in a state group to create games together, games can be a powerful tool to encourage and facilitate learning.

There are two main forms of games in education:

1. Games for entertainment are being used in an educational setting
2. Educators use game design features to enhance learning

It is crucial to recognize the first form. There are many similarities between learning a concept and playing a video game. For example, consider the perseverance required to beat a videogame level or the immediate feedback that comes from being unsuccessful. For a more in-depth analysis on the relationship between gaming and learning, see the academic work by Dr. James Paul Gee.

Even games that are often dismissed by adults, such as fast-paced video games and mobile match-three puzzle games, have been shown to provide educational benefits to this. Although rote skill and drill games are often criticized for focusing on the wrong aspect of learning, they can still have educational benefits such as rewards, goals, narratives, and other characteristics that can lead to demonstrable learning gains.