Game on! Using gamification to engage learners An insight for the “gamification” term definition and history

Gamification as a concept

Gamification as a concept 

Gamification, as a concept, involves incorporating gaming strategies to enhance the learning experience and increase engagement for individuals. Utilizing gamification in education offers benefits by teaching lifelong skills like cooperation, critical thinking, social awareness, collaboration, and problem-solving. Moreover, gamified learning motivates individuals, sparks interest in specific subjects, lowers attrition rates among learners, improves academic grades, and boosts cognitive abilities.

Gamification has two main interpretations. One is directly incorporating video game mechanics into everyday tasks, leveraging their engagement and entertainment value to motivate completion of otherwise tedious activities like learning. The other definition encompasses using game elements like points, badges, and leaderboards to make non-games more engaging  (1)(2).

 

A historical exploration of "gamification"

While most recognize Dmitri Mendeleev, a 19th-century Russian scientist and educator, for publishing the first widely accepted Periodic Table of Elements, his innovative approach to learning often goes unnoticed. Some may view him as a forerunner in implementing game dynamics and reward systems outside of games, which has come to be called "gamification." (3)

Mendeleev, a known card enthusiast, employed this latter approach. He categorized elements by writing each on a card with relevant information, then laying them face-up on a table like a hand in a card game. This arrangement enabled him to visualize and understand the relationships between the elements more effectively. The resulting organization, published by Mendeleev, not only laid the groundwork for discovering new elements and further development of the periodic table but also stands as a testament to the power of gamification.

Mendeleev himself wasn't an academic standout in his youth, yet he rose to scientific prominence thanks in part to his innovative use of gamification. This exemplifies the potential benefits of gamification and its potential to empower learners regardless of their past academic performance.

 

Gamification is the playful element that is supercharging learning and affects the learning process by extraordinary means. It is transforming education by offering several advantages over traditional methods. These benefits vary like boosting learner motivation, enhancing knowledge retention, fostering social engagement and many much more (4).