Gamification is the latest development to hit the e-Learning landscape and it’s estimated to reach a whopping market growth of $1,707 billion by the end of 2015.
Using games for learning is not a new phenomenon; you need only watch the famous difficulty spelling clip from Danny DeVito’s Matilda film (1996) to realise that.
However, while game play is customary between teacher and student, adapting this technique to the digital sphere is easier said than done. Gamification is not intended to undermine the credibility of education but rather to make the entire process more engaging.
With games there is always the motivation to improve so by incorporating competitive, immersive and fun elements into learning, there is further scope for development. To progress with virtual learning gamification successfully, we need to identify the preferred techniques that learners enjoy. A recent infographic conducted by e-Learning Infographics found that users are most engaged by:
- Different levels
- Points / scoring systems
- Instant performance feedback
- Activity feed
- Progress Bars
Conversely, the lowest ranking gamification techniques are:
- Competition between friends
- Virtual gift prizes
- Avatars
- Interactive fiction
Mundane activities become laborious quickly but by turning tasks into simple games it can motivate learners and hold their concentration for longer. This is particularly effective in the professional workplace.
A gamification survey helmed by TalentLMS found that an astonishing 79% of corporate learners and university students said they would feel extra motivated if their environment was more game-like. This amazing statistic came at the same time as 400 out of 1000 Global organisations announced that gamification would be the model used to improve future business operations.
As touched upon earlier in the article, virtual learning gamification has amazing lucrative potential. With gamification comes new demand for game designers and developers who will be needed to create and maintain these programmes. In this sense gamification is not only beneficial to the virtual learners who use it, but also to those studying in the design and development field.
The jury is out, gamification is the future.
Global Knowledge offers a number of innovative, instructor-led virtual learning courses. Virtual learning enables learners to study anywhere and anytime, removing the costs associated with traditional learning. To find out how your business or organisation could benefit from virtual classroom learning, give Global Knowledge a call today on 0118 912 1929.
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