Insight into Why You Need to Gamify Training
Gamification – more than just a buzzword?
Gamification has become a buzzword in the world of education and training. But what is gamification, and how does it work? At its core, gamification is the application of game elements and design to non-game contexts. In other words, it’s taking the mechanics that make games engaging and applying them to other areas to make them more fun and effective. And the science behind gamification shows that it can have significant benefits for learning outcomes.
Gamification improves learning outcomes
One of the primary ways gamification improves learning outcomes is by increasing engagement. Games are designed to be engaging, and they use a range of strategies to capture and maintain players’ attention. These same strategies can be applied to learning contexts to make them more engaging and compelling. By making learning more engaging, gamification can improve motivation and increase the likelihood that learners will stick with the training.
Another way gamification improves learning outcomes is by providing instant feedback. In games, players receive immediate feedback on their actions. This feedback allows them to adjust their approach and improve their performance. The same can be applied to learning contexts. By providing learners with immediate feedback, they can understand what they’re doing well and where they need to improve. This can help them develop a better understanding of the material and retain it more effectively.
Gamification can improve learning outcomes by tapping into intrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivation refers to the drive to do something for its own sake, rather than for an external reward. Games are often engaging and rewarding in and of themselves, which can tap into learners’ intrinsic motivation. Sure, there are leaderboards and the option to enjoy a little healthy competition. But by tapping into more intrinsic motivations, gamification can increase learners’ engagement and interest in the material, leading to sustained engagement and better learning outcomes.
Perhaps surprisingly, gamification can improve learning outcomes by providing learners with a sense of accomplishment. Games often provide players with clear goals and a sense of progress towards those goals. By providing learners with a sense of accomplishment and progress, gamification can increase motivation and engagement, leading to better performance. Add repetition of best practices to that, and you’ll find you have created real behavior change.
Leveraging gamification in training creates advantages
To wrap this up, leveraging the science of gamification and incorporating game elements into training can result in notable advantages. By increasing engagement, providing instant feedback, making learning more memorable, tapping into intrinsic motivation, and providing learners with a sense of accomplishment, gamification makes learning more effective and enjoyable. As such, it’s no surprise that more and more organizations are turning to gamification as a way to improve their training programs.
