How to Increase Learner Motivation With Gamification

With more than 60% of students relying on eLearning these days, it’s more important than ever to boost learner motivation.

Gamification is one of the best ways to increase interest no matter what subject you’re teaching. It gives your students a new way to learn that makes every step of the lesson fun and exciting. It’s a method of teaching that works well regardless of a student’s age since we all love that rush of dopamine when we play a video game.

What is Game-based Learning?

Game-based learning refers to the borrowing of certain gaming principles and applying them to real-life settings to engage users. The motivational psychology involved in game-based learning allows students to engage with educational materials in a playful and dynamic way.

Game-based learning is not just creating games for students to play, it is designing learning activities that can incrementally introduce concepts, and guide users towards an end goal.

Traditional games can incorporate mechanics such as competition, points, incentives, and feedback loops. These concepts have become increasingly popular in higher education and in libraries as a way to engage students in learning.

If you’re on the fence about gamified learning, then keep reading, as we go through all the reasons why it’s a great choice to use game elements within online classes! Here’s how to increase learner motivation with gamification.

Set Clear Goals

The idea of learning a new subject is an abstract thing that feels overwhelming when you first start. That’s why the gamification of learning helps motivate students of all ages. It turns that abstract idea into something more concrete and achievable.

Each game session gives students a clear goal they’re striving for, and they’re rewarded for reaching that goal.

There is no guesswork as students begin the lesson. They know what is being asked of them and they know which tools to use to complete the task. All of this motivates them to push on with the lesson.

Increase Focus

No matter how studious we try to be, we all have subjects that leave us bored, no matter if we try our hardest, our focus still wanders and strays.

That’s why gamification is a huge asset for anyone looking to strengthen their focus on their studies. Studying might slow us down, but game-based learning gives us a boost of energy with things like reward systems in place to help intrinsically motivate students.

Put a Fun Twist on Learning Material

Introducing game mechanics to your learning material makes students more interested in what’s going on in the class. When a student is interested, they’re far more motivated to keep learning the material even with any prompting from the teacher.

When students are sat at home, it’s easy to get distracted, which is why when you create a game context for your educational material, it keeps interests high and encourages students to lean-in to their studies. Gamification motivates students to keep doing their best to get a high score or extrinsic reward at the end of the learning pathway.

Engage Students in New Ways

It’s a constant struggle to get students to participate in the lesson when their focus is on other things like talking to their friends or trying to sneak onto their phones.

By giving them a game-like experience, they’re more likely to pay attention during the entire class. Gamification is there to facilitate both motivation and learning, while students may still zone out from time to time, gamification caters to different types of motivation to help recapture their attention.

Another benefit to gamifying the learning process is that it gives you plenty of new options in which to teach. There’s an unlimited amount of ways to turn a lesson into a game that is both engaging and exciting for students.

Give Instant Feedback

Adjusting to online classes is difficult for some, but there are many assets to offset any worries. One of the best parts about online learning and gamification is that you’re always providing instant feedback to your students to help increase learner engagement.

In the classroom, it’s sometimes impossible to give every student the attention and feedback that they need. When you introduce gamification, the game itself provides that feedback.

When a student does well, the game rewards them, while, if a student struggles, the game will encourage them and offer them alternative ways to look at the problem.

It’s as if you have a digital assistant to help both you and your students every step of the way in their professional development. By having this extra feedback, students can learn what they’re doing wrong much faster than normal. This makes it easier for them to figure out the correct method to get the right answer and move on with the lesson.

Longer-Lasting Knowledge

When students engage in the material they’re learning, they end up retaining far more of the information than they would with any other learning method. Since games are so good at getting students to take part in the learning process, they remember more because they were active during the lesson.

Whenever it’s soon time for the next test, try presenting the information in the form of a game. See how well your students do on the test with a gamified study method compared to more traditional methods!

Create a Comfortable Learning Environment

Have you ever had a student that was always too shy to ask for help? You never quite know if they’re struggling with the material because they rarely call out or raise their hand. Do you have another student that always asks for help, making it difficult to address the needs of other students?

Sometimes learning in a classroom is an overwhelming experience for everyone involved. That’s why many students find that they prefer online learning.

Gamification makes it even better since all of the benefits come together to make a comfortable environment for all students.

There’s an added layer of privacy for the quiet students, letting them feel at ease when they work through the material. For disruptive students, it’s easier to set them a task and keep them from causing mayhem for the rest of the students.

Plus, the best benefit of gamification is the fact that students simply enjoy the process. It turns the act of learning into a fun exercise that brings interest to even the most boring of topics. All of this makes online learning a comforting activity rather than a stressful experience.

Strong Learner Motivation Makes Studying Better for All

Focusing on online classes can be a big change, but it can also be a great asset. By finding ways to increase learner motivation, it’s a much easier transition regardless of the subject. Make classes better for both students and teachers alike by using all the best digital tools available.

Whenever you feel as though your class is in a slump, use gamification to boost morale!

Is there an LMS with gamification mechanics?

Fortunately for you, you’re in the right place. Archy Learning is the only LMS dedicated to using gamification elements within all aspects of their LMS, whether that be a gamified user interface for student profiles, gamified learning pathways, or even mini-game lessons.

Whether you’re an online student or a curious teacher, we’ve got all the tools you need to get started with gamified learning, so check out our class libraries or contact us today.