Games should not be included in your online learning course
just for the ‘fun’ factor they bring. This will shift the focus
away from the larger purpose of online learning. It is
important to remember that the entertainment factor in
games is aimed at increasing the engagement levels of
online students. The game should be tied to the learning
objectives; it must be designed to help online students
achieve the desired outcomes of the online course. If a
gamified activity is designed without alignment to students’
educational needs for constructive learning, it may have a
negative impact on students’ learning.
Having said that
there is nothing wrong to have some fun and enjoy the
game-based learning approach with your students.