Gamification in Learning and Instruction
By Sabba N. Quidwai
Gamification in learning and instruction is a topic that PrepTEC has been
researching and exploring lately. You will be hearing more about this in
our upcoming professional development sessions and we hope to model
for you some strategies you can use with your students in the classroom.
It was after reading a book by Karl Kapp, a professor of Instructional
Technology at Bloomsburg University in North Eastern Pennsylvania that
we became increasingly intrigued in the application of gamification in
our learning and instruction. Here is an excerpt from an interview with
Karl. You can click on the image to the left to read the full feature
interview posted on iPadEducators.com.
Q
: Your latest book "The Gamification of Learning and Instruction" is
excellent. Could you explain the title for those who may be unfamiliar with the terminology?
A
: At first I had trouble getting the title approved by the publisher but as the word started to catch
on, I was able to lobby for “Gamification” in the title. I joke and say that 6 years ago, one could not
say “Game” in an educational institution because it was a four letter word but because we added
‘ification” to it, now it’s safe to use the word….even though game is still four letters.
I define Gamification in the following way. “Gamification is using game-based mechanics, aesthetics
and game thinking to engage people, motivate action, promote learning, and solve problems.” I think
gamification is about using the best elements of games, challenge, interactivity, story, the freedom to
fail and continual feedback to help people to learn. It should not simply be about using badges, points
or rewards to motivate people. It is about so much more.
Q
: Your book makes a wonderful argument for the use of games in the classroom, what advice do
you have for teachers who wish to begin creating their own game?
A
: Engage the students and ask them to create games. One of the absolute best ways to learn
something is to try to make a game out of a subject. Students have fun with it, the teacher can use the
best versions for future classes and students can become fully engaged with the subject matter and the
problem-solving effort of creating a game.
Also, many people talk about “stealth” learning with games. Don’t. When using a game for learning,
brief the students ahead of time on what they will be learning or should be learning while they play
the game. Then let them play the game. After they play the game, debrief the students. Ask them
what they learned? How can they generalize the game play experience to other contexts? What they
liked and didn’t like about learning with a game? Ask them what insights they gained in the subject
matter? There is no learning without reflection. In fact, an experience without reflection is just an
experience. Draw the learning out of the students. They play a lot of games but never stop to reflect
on the experience and think about what they’ve learned and how it can be generalized, teachers have
this great opportunity when they introduce games into their classrooms.
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