The word refers to applying general concepts of video games, such as a role-playing scenario, earning points, showing leaderboards, problem solving incorporated into a narrative, common maps populated by avatars, and many others, applied to non-video game modules.<\/p>\n
Gamification applies incredibly well to e-learning for several reasons. Scholar Michelle Miller identified several pros and cons of e-learning in her 2014 text Teaching Effectively with Technology. <\/em>Two major downsides of e-learning include the remote, removed nature of instruction and the inability to personalize the educational process.<\/p>\n By applying aspects of video games, however, e-learning modules can overcome these obstacles with highly engaging gameplay along with games that take a player\/student\u2019s actions into account.<\/p>\n Gamified Modules<\/strong><\/p>\n These design techniques might seem vague, but in many games, it\u2019s a pretty natural outcome.<\/p>\n For example, Unit9 developed LIFESAVER, a crisis simulation for people learning first aid. The module involves a character, Jake, who suffers a heart attack. The player then administers CPR, with the game asking them new questions at each step. The whole thing is timed, and the character in the game responds to the player\u2019s actions.<\/p>\n KFC isn\u2019t even the only fast food chain that trains its employees with a gamified e-learning module. McDonald\u2019s Till Training Game brings new employees through the checkout system and seems significantly less cool than KFC\u2019s game, but it still tries to make the learning process more engaging with gamification techniques.<\/p>\n As boring as it sounds, the company did not make the game mandatory for new employees, and yet 85 percent of new McDonald\u2019s employees not only played the game, but said it helped them learn the new system.<\/p>\n Video Games and E-Learning Try to Do the Same Thing Anyway<\/strong><\/p>\n Professor Michele Dickey began writing about the benefits of combining video games with e-learning back in the early aughts. Dickey has discussed how massive multiple online role-playing games (MMORPs) can motivate users, how adventure scenarios can be useful learning tools, and most of all, how e-learning gamification can be highly engaging.<\/p>\n According to Dickey, \u201cplayers may be required to analyze, synthesize, and use critical thinking skills in order to play and execute moves \u2026 Game design is at the forefront of cultivating innovative techniques for interactive design.\u201d There\u2019s no reason game design shouldn\u2019t be applied to e-learning.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By applying aspects of video games, however, e-learning modules can overcome these obstacles with highly engaging gameplay along with games that take a player\/student\u2019s actions into account.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":2725,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2716","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","category-industry-news"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/news.elearninginside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/gamify-pic-300x300.jpg\")
Other examples of \u2018gamified\u2019 e-learning modules include City Witness: Medieval Swansea, which teaches history; Train4TradeSkills allows young tradespeople, like plumbers, electricians, and energy infrastructure workers to train in a safe environment; and The Blood Typing Game from Nobel Media which, well, teaches you how to figure out someone\u2019s blood type.<\/p>\n