GAMIFICATION

OF LEARNING AND INSTRUCTION

Karl M. Kapp

ID Forum Presentation by Josh Harrision

Dec. 4, 2012
WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF A GAME?
OF GAMIFICATION?
• Whiteboard (two columns – Game and Gamification)
WHAT IS GAMIFICATION? (PER KAPP)
Game
• A system in which players engage in
an abstract challenge, defined by
rules, interactivity, and feedback, that
results in a quantifiable outcome often
eliciting an emotional reaction.
Gamification
• Using game-based mechanics,
aesthetics and game thinking to
engage people, motivate action,
promote learning, and solve
problems.
• A careful and considered
application of game thinking to
solving problems and
encouraging learning using all the
elements of games that are
appropriate.
DEFINITION CONFUSION!

Kapp: Everyone else:

• Gamification is NOT points, badges,
and rewards without other aspects of
game thinking such as engagement,
storytelling, visualization of characters,
and problem solving.
• Gamification is leveraging game
mechanics such as points, badges and
levels to non-game activities.
DIRE WARNINGS!
But he also says:
Brian Burke, Research VP, Gartner:
• 80% of gamification apps will fail
by 2014.
• Organizations are simply counting
points, slapping meaningless
badges on activities, and creating
gamified applications that are
simply not engaging for the target
audience
• Within five years a gamification
program will be a key organizational
enabler for 75% of enterprise-
oriented dev ops initiatives, up from
less than 1% today.
• Organizations can successfully
incorporate gamification by ensuring
the challenge matches the skill level
and using proper motivation,
primarily with intrinsic rewards rather
than extrinsic rewards like points,
rewards, and badges.
 RESET YOUR GAME MINDSET
• So… ‘gamification’ as the term is
commonly used is disliked by Gartner
and Kapp (even though he named his
book for it)
• Solution: Don’t use the term
‘gamification’ in this context and just
think about how you can effectively use
games in learning and instruction
• Fortunately, that’s what Kapp does with
the rest of his book, so we can look at
those suggestions and leave that
unfortunate term out of the discussion
WHAT ARE THE ELEMENTS OF A GAME?

• Whiteboard
GAME ELEMENTS
• Abstraction of concepts and reality
• Goals
• Rules
• Conflict, competition, or cooperation
• Time
• Rewards
• Feedback
• Levels
• Storytelling
• Do-over
THEORIES BEHIND INSTRUCTIONAL GAMES
• Motivation
• Distributed Practice
• Scaffolding
• Episodic Memory
• Cognitive Apprenticeship
RESEARCH ON INSTRUCTIONAL GAMES
• Kapp cites meta-studies
showing games are great
• Specific findings
• Visual realism
• Size of reward
• Uncertain rewards
• Intrinsic motivation
• Avatars
LEARNING DOMAINS FOR GAMES
• Declarative
• Conceptual
• Rule-based
• Procedural
• Problem-solving
• Affective domain
COMMENTS/QUESTIONS
• I hate the “Gamification” moniker
• Book is good intro/review of concepts of instructional games and their value
• The book doesn’t mention the cost of developing instructional games – probably
our biggest hurdle (in online training, at least)
• Book often references video games – I’d prefer more instructional examples
• Many of the elements and theories of games are already in good OLT. What’s
the difference between highly interactive OLT and games? Scoring?
• What do you think are the greatest strengths of games in instruction and
learning?
• What are the biggest challenges and weaknesses of using games in instruction
and learning?
FREE ONLINE GAMES TO CHECK OUT
• http://www.3rdworldfarmer.com/ (3rd World Farming)
• http://www.nobelprize.org/educational/medicine/bloodtypinggame/ (Blood typing)
• http://www.atlantisremixed.org/ (Complex learning world for 9-16 yr olds. IU connection?)
• http://www.edheads.org/ (variety including crash scene and knee replacement)
• http://www.re-mission.net/ (cancer for young adults)
• http://www.historycanadagame.com/ (Canadian history)
• http://www.americasarmy.com/ (US Army game/marketing)
• http://www.whyville.net/smmk/nice (Whyville - Virtual world for elementary and middle schoolers – science
and social responsibility)
• http://www.playalterego.com/ Alter Ego is an online life simulation browser game. Also available for mobile.
• http://fold.it/portal/ Protein folding game
• https://portal.mmowgli.nps.edu/game-wiki/-/wiki/PlayerResources/Piracy+MMOWGLI+Games Navy’s Somali
pirate fighting game
• http://gaming2learn.org/index.php/survival-master-game/game-introduction Artic survival for STEM learning