Using gamification in teaching: Engage, educate and excite

A teacher with children stood over a globe of the world, with children pointing to it
Reading time: 6 minutes

In an era where student engagement can be as challenging as the teaching itself, educators are constantly seeking innovative ways to capture attention and enhance learning. Gamification has emerged as a dynamic solution, promising to turn education into a more engaging and enjoyable experience. But what does gamification really entail, and how can it be effectively implemented in teaching? Let¡¯s have a look:

Level up your teaching with gamification
Play
Privacy and cookies

By watching, you agree ÃÛÌÒapp can share your viewership data for marketing and analytics for one year, revocable by deleting your cookies.

What is gamification?

At its core, gamification is the strategic use of game-based mechanics, aesthetics and game thinking to engage people, motivate action, encourage learning and solve problems. In an educational setting, it transforms the learning experience by making it more interactive and rewarding, akin to the way games captivate and hold the interest of players.

Essentially, gamification leverages the innate human desire for competition and achievement to foster a more stimulating and immersive learning environment.

This strategy not only makes education more appealing to students but also encourages them to take an active role in their own learning, fostering a positive and stimulating educational atmosphere.

Why is gamification important in education?

Educators today stand at the crossroads of tradition and innovation. With the advent of technology and digital tools, teaching and assessment methods are rapidly evolving. And as we continue to explore the vast potential of these trends, it's essential to gather insights from experts in the field.

The significance of gamification and play in the learning process is well-documented. According to Johnson, Smith, Willis, Levine and Haywood, in their work, '', gamification techniques encourage the natural desire for socializing, learning, mastery, competition, achievement, status and self-expression. They argue that these techniques help motivate students to learn and improve their cognitive and social skills, leading to a more engaging and effective educational experience.

This perspective aligns with the constructivist theory of learning, which theorizes that learners construct knowledge best through active engagement and experiences. Considering this, gamification in education is not merely about adding game elements to teaching but about redesigning the learning experience to foster active participation and immersion, thereby deepening comprehension and making learning more memorable.

By treating education as a form of play, learners of all ages find it easier to confront challenges, manage failures and celebrate successes, echoing the natural learning process experienced outside the classroom. This approach for teachers not only makes learning more enjoyable but also mirrors the rewards-based systems they're likely to encounter in the real world.

How gamified learning can increase students' skills

The effectiveness of gamified learning in augmenting and training students' skills cannot be overstated. By integrating game mechanics into the educational process, learners are encouraged to take an active role in their education, leading to a higher level of engagement and participation.

This, in turn, often results in a deeper understanding of the subject matter and a significant improvement in problem-solving skills. Gamification stimulates learners' curiosity and motivates them to progress through learning milestones, effectively turning the acquisition of new skills into an enjoyable and rewarding process.

Helps students engage with their learning

Additionally, research conducted by Hamari, Koivisto and Sarsa further underscores the positive impact of gamification on student engagement. In their study, '' they analyzed the outcomes of gamification across different settings and found that it indeed improves participation and engagement levels. The study concluded that when implemented thoughtfully, gamification could significantly enhance motivation and engagement, thereby promoting better learning outcomes.

This evidence strongly supports the notion that gamification, when aligned with educational goals and balanced with traditional teaching methods, can serve as a powerful tool for educators to facilitate more effective learning experiences.

The dynamic and interactive nature of gamified learning supports a diverse range of learning styles, making it an inclusive method of active learning that can cater to the unique needs of individual learners. Ultimately, by making learning more interactive and enjoyable, gamification not only supports the acquisition of subject-specific knowledge but also cultivates critical soft skills such as teamwork, communication and time management, which are invaluable beyond the classroom.

Enhances retention and recall

Gamification further stands out in its ability to enhance memory retention and recall among students. The engaging nature of game-based learning activities encourages repetition and reinforcement, key factors in consolidating new information. According to a study by Wouters and van Oostendorp in their paper, '', students who engaged in gamified learning showed significantly higher levels of retention compared to those who underwent traditional learning methods.

The study highlighted that the interactive and engaging components of gamified elements helped with encoding information more effectively, making it easier for students to retrieve information when needed. This aspect of gamification, therefore, not only makes learning more enjoyable but also more effective, particularly in fostering durable learning that extends beyond the classroom.

A teacher stood over their students working pointing at their work

Best practices for incorporating gamification in education

Implementing gamification in teaching requires more than just adding points and badges to educational activities. To ensure it enriches the learning experience effectively, educators should adhere to a set of best practices.

Firstly, it¡¯s crucial to align game mechanics with learning objectives. This means that each element of gamification should have a clear educational purpose, for example, whether it¡¯s to reinforce knowledge, encourage teamwork, or develop problem-solving skills.

Use meaningful rewards

Offering meaningful rewards is vital. Beyond physical rewards, intrinsic motivators such as unlocking new content or gaining access to more challenging levels can significantly enhance engagement and motivation.

The importance of personalization

Finally, personalization plays a key role in successful gamification. Allowing learners to choose their learning paths or avatars and personalizing rewards and challenges to their level of skill can make the learning experience more relevant and engaging.

Ways to implement gamification in your teaching

Here are practical ways to apply gamification in your classroom:

  1. Enhance motivation with game-based elements: Implementing point-scoring systems, leaderboards and badges can make learning more fun and motivate students to strive for better results.
  2. Encourage positive competition: Create challenges and contests among students to encourage them to engage more deeply with the material. Ensure the competition stays friendly and constructive.
  3. Interactive learning modules: Use technology to create gamified lessons that are interactive and adaptive, much like the AI tools discussed in our AI webinars. These modules can provide immediate feedback, which is crucial for language learning.
  4. Storytelling projects: Adopt the role of AI in fostering creativity, allowing students to construct stories using AI-enabled writing tools. This not only helps with language skills but also encourages creativity and imagination.
  5. Progression-based learning: Design a curriculum that allows students to unlock new levels or topics as they progress, similar to how they would advance in a game. This provides a clear sense of progression and achievement.
  6. Real-life rewards: Incentivize learning goals with real-life rewards, which can range from extra credit to classroom privileges. Doing so can encourage learners to take their 'gaming' achievements seriously.
  7. Feedback loops: Like AI, gamification thrives on feedback. Provide recurring feedback to help students understand where they're excelling and what they need to improve.

With these strategies in mind, you can begin to integrate more gamification elements into your teaching practice. Just as artificial intelligence is paving new ways for engaging learners, gamification presents endless possibilities for creating captivating and effective educational experiences.

Education is no longer just about conveying information; it's about actively engaging students in a way that makes learning irresistible. By using gamification, you can transform your classroom into an arena where each lesson is an adventure, each task a challenge to be overcome, and learning itself a victory to be celebrated.

Activity idea

Here is one idea/activity for using AI to gamify your learning:

  1. Use a text generation platform to receive either a long word or a short phrase.
  2. In teams, learners will work together to create as many new words as possible within a set time limit.
  3. Points will be awarded for each word created, with bonus points given for the longest or most creative word.

Learning more about gamification and AI

Don't miss the chance to deepen your understanding and expand your toolkit for engaging students through AI.?Be sure to take a look at?Billie Jago's?free video series and lesson plans, which provide a comprehensive introduction to using AI in the classroom. These will be showcased throughout August and September 2024.

Designed for educators who want to quickly grasp the fundamentals of AI and learn practical tips that can be implemented in the classroom immediately.

More blogs from ÃÛÌÒapp

  • A woman sat outdoors reading a booklet

    Seven ways to develop independent learners

    By Richard Cleeve

    What is independent learning?

    Students who are actively involved in deciding what and how they learn are typically more engaged and motivated.

    That¡¯s not surprising, because independent learners are extremely focused on their personal learning objectives.

    , independent learning is ¡°a process, a method and a philosophy of education whereby a learner acquires knowledge by his or her own efforts and develops the ability for inquiry and critical evaluation."

    ?

  • A young woman taking notes in a lecture theatre, she is sat by other young people.

    Preparing your learners for university study abroad

    By Richard Cleeve

    Whether your learners are going for a single semester, academic year or an entire university course, studying abroad is an excellent opportunity for them. They¡¯ll have the chance to discover a new culture, develop new skills and make new friends.

    University study in another country also poses several challenges. But as a teacher, you can equip them for this experience and prepare them for future academic success.

    Why study abroad?

    Most people think that studying at university is hard enough, without the added difficulty of doing it overseas. But that doesn¡¯t stop hundreds of thousands of university students from leaving the support of family and friends and relocating to a foreign country.

    People apply to study in another country for a range of reasons. A university program abroad might offer the student better tuition and a greater promise of future employment or simply represent better value for money. And in the case of very specialist university courses, studying abroad may be the only option.

    Whatever the reason, the decision to study in a foreign country is likely to involve a high level of proficiency in another language ¨C and more often than not, that language is English.

    A move towards English language in higher education

    There has been a significant shift in higher education in the last ten years, as many European institutions look to internationalize their programs. As a result, across Europe, we have seen a sharp growth in the number of university courses taught in English. English-taught bachelor¡¯s programs offered by universities in the have multiplied dramatically over the last decade.?

    What challenges do learners face?

    Academic skills

    There are a whole range of academic skills that students are expected to know when they start university. From research and evaluation, to note-making and referencing, many learners will enter higher education lacking many of the essential skills they require.

    Studying in a foreign language

    Not only will they have to master new skills, but they may need to do them in a second language. What¡¯s more, even everyday things that fluent speakers may take for granted, such as understanding lectures, reading academic papers, writing essays and even socializing with new friends, will take a lot more effort if English isn¡¯t your first language.

    Administrative issues

    There are many potential pitfalls for a student in a new academic setting. From the administrative process and campus regulations to the types of lessons and assessments, there may be a lot of differences to deal with. Even understanding the etiquette of addressing and interacting with professors can be daunting.

    Problems integrating

    Another challenge is integrating into another culture. Even if the host country is culturally similar, adapting to new surroundings is not always straightforward. There can also be a certain amount of ghettoization, where international students might stick together and remain isolated from the local student population.

    Homesickness

    for international students to deal with. Depending on how far they travel to study, your learners may be unable to return home easily, visit their families and alleviate their homesickness.

    Mental health

    Moving abroad and living in a completely new place can be very stressful and overwhelming, and many factors can exacerbate/cause . Making it harder to do day-to-day tasks, socialize and study.?

    Money worries

    Without a grant or a scholarship, studying abroad can be very expensive. If your learners currently live at home with their parents, the cost of accommodation may be formidable. The higher cost of living could mean they have to look for a part-time job to supplement their income. Understanding a country's can also be confusing and hard to calculate into their budget.

    What can you do to get your students ready?

    All of the challenges mentioned above have one thing in common. If a student cannot communicate effectively, these situations can be exacerbated. Language is key, whether it¡¯s accessing support, communicating with professors or getting to grips with a new culture.

    Here are some things you can do to help your learners prepare for university life:

    1) Put them in touch with past students

    It¡¯s important that your learners have a clear idea of what university study abroad entails. Creating a chance for them to speak to other students who have already gone through that experience can be extremely valuable.

    Students who have returned from studying abroad can help with your learners' doubts and put their minds at rest. They might be able to provide essential advice about a specific country or university or simply tell their story. Either way, it¡¯s a great way to reassure and encourage your learners.

    2) Use appropriate authentic content

    In preparation for your learner¡¯s time abroad, the language course that you teach should align with their future linguistic needs. One of the main aims should be to develop the language skills required to perform successfully and confidently in their new context.

    3) Teach them academic study skills

    Think back to when you were at university and what you struggled with. Group work, presentations, critical thinking and exam skills are all things which your learners will need to be proficient in, so the more you practice them in class the better.

    4) Promote autonomous learning

    Success at university is deeply rooted in a student¡¯s ability to work independently and develop practical self-study skills. Giving your learners more choice in the language learning process is one way to encourage autonomy.

  • A diverse group of people standing together in a group

    The importance of gender equality within learner content

    By Richard Cleeve

    Gender equality in the publishing industry

    The impact of any learning material goes far beyond its subject matter and pedagogical objectives. Everything included, from the choice of language, to the imagery, to the text and front covers, has the potential to reinforce stereotypes unintentionally. This can shape a learner¡¯s sense of self and others around them and affect how they feel and behave in a social setting.

    A wealth of evidence suggests that early gender bias influences future inequality. It can affect career aspirations, influence the choice of school subjects and ultimately contribute to gender disparity as children grow into adults.?This is a challenge for all sectors and industries across society. Guidelines have been developed for ÃÛÌÒapp to ensure that our materials are gender equal and showcase positive female role models.

    The guidelines are broken down into three different areas surrounding gender equality:

    1. The representation of people and characters in content

    The guidelines help to ensure that women are represented equally to men in our learning and teaching materials. This includes ensuring that women's representation does not reinforce negative stereotypes. For example, content that shows women as single parents can also present them as single parents and workers. The idea is to .

    Another common example is with regards to science materials.

    Often, when students are asked to describe a famous scientist, they describe a character similar to Albert Einstein with white hair and a white coat. Female scientists are often overlooked in this respect, and historically, they have not been given as much attention as their male counterparts.

    This type of unconscious bias is something the guidelines aim to help change. Our goal is to represent both women and men from various backgrounds across all subjects. For example, some content shows women in traditionally male roles, such as pilots, engineers and soldiers. The objective is to highlight that .

    Another issue is the objectification of women. Often, women are presented as not having agency or purpose, and too much focus is placed on their appearance, rather than their intentions, behavior and aspirations. The new guidelines set out to change this.

    2. The use of language

    Our language is gendered and therefore steeped in stereotyping. We aim to promote the use of terminology that is non-gendered. For example, using ¡®police officer¡¯, ¡®firefighter¡¯ and ¡®maintenance worker¡¯ instead of ¡®policeman¡¯, ¡®fireman¡¯ and ¡®handyman¡¯. Although this is a small change, it contributes to removing the unconscious bias surrounding jobs and professions.

    Adjectives can also play a role in perpetuating gender inequality. We often associate particular adjectives with genders. For example, words like ¡®hysterical¡¯, ¡®shrill¡¯, or ¡®frumpy¡¯ are typically used for women. Whereas men can be described as ¡®assertive¡¯, women are more likely to be seen as ¡®bossy¡¯.

    Furthermore, parallel language is something that needs to be looked at. Words like ¡®girls and boys¡¯ can be replaced with ¡®students¡¯. In this way, the guidelines are here to ensure that there is no gendering within materials. This will influence gender equality among our users.

    3. Referencing third-party content

    Another key issue involved in the material is the referencing of third-party content. For example, stories based on classic fairy tales are often used to represent certain points, and these typically show the strong male hero saving the weak female damsel in distress.

    Although these are stories that our society has grown up with, they could be more helpful in offering a gender-balanced view of society. ÃÛÌÒapp¡¯s guidelines are in place to ensure that students see women and men as equals throughout the materials.

    What can teachers do to help in the classroom?

    To help fight against gender inequality, teachers can think about incorporating more female stories and role models into their lessons. For example, rather than simply focusing on Issac Newton or Albert Einstein in science class.

    At a management level, schools can be more aware of what materials they are choosing to bring in, assessing whether the content is balanced, before accepting it. These simple actions can help our learners grow up with a more balanced view of gender.