The differences between serious games, gamification and game-based learning

Summary

This video explains the differences between gamification, game-based learning, and serious games. Gamification enhances traditional tasks like learning or work by adding game elements, making them more engaging. Game-based learning uses existing games to teach new concepts, combining fun with education. Serious games, on the other hand, are specifically designed to meet educational goals, offering intrinsic motivation to keep players engaged while learning. The video emphasizes the importance of understanding your learning objectives and target audience when choosing the right approach for effective results.

Takeaways

• 😀 Gamification involves adding game elements to traditionally boring tasks to make them more engaging and enjoyable.
• 😀 Gamification is cost-effective and easy to implement, making it popular in companies and schools to make work and studying fun.
• 😀 Gamification can be a short-term solution to make learning more interesting but may lose effectiveness over time as players get bored of the same techniques.
• 😀 Game-based learning uses existing games for educational purposes, repurposing entertainment-focused games to teach new skills or concepts.
• 😀 Games like Minecraft and Assassin's Creed History Tour are examples of game-based learning, where the game provides an engaging way to learn.
• 😀 Successful game-based learning requires someone to explain how the game’s content relates to the learning objectives.
• 😀 Serious games are specifically designed for learning purposes, with all elements of the game focused on achieving educational goals.
• 😀 The purpose of serious games is to make learning enjoyable and keep participants engaged through intrinsic motivation, ensuring they don’t get bored.
• 😀 Designing a serious game requires a deep understanding of the learning objectives and the target audience to ensure the game meets their needs.
• 😀 Before creating a serious game, it’s important to evaluate whether it’s the right approach for the intended educational goals.
• 😀 The speaker invites further engagement to help clarify the differences between gamification, game-based learning, and serious games and provide tailored advice.

Q & A

What is the difference between gamification, game-based learning, and serious games?

Gamification adds game elements to a non-game activity to make it more engaging, like learning or work. Game-based learning uses existing games to teach new skills or concepts, while serious games are specifically designed to meet learning objectives or to train specific skills.

How does gamification improve work or learning environments?

Gamification enhances work or learning by adding game elements like rewards and challenges to traditionally dull tasks. This makes the activity more engaging and enjoyable, stimulating participation and motivation.

What is an example of a game that uses gamification to teach a skill?

Duolingo is a popular example of gamification, where players learn new languages through a game-like interface, earning rewards for progress, making the learning process fun and engaging.

Why might gamification not work as a long-term solution?

Gamification may lose its effectiveness over time as players get bored of the same techniques. It doesn't address the root cause of why the task or activity was boring in the first place.

What is game-based learning and how does it differ from gamification?

Game-based learning involves using an existing game, designed primarily for entertainment, to teach new skills or concepts. Unlike gamification, which adds game elements to a non-game activity, game-based learning repurposes an existing game for educational purposes.

Can you give an example of a game used for game-based learning?

Minecraft and Assassin's Creed History Tour are examples of game-based learning, where players engage in fun gameplay while learning about history and other topics.

What is a serious game and how is it different from game-based learning?

A serious game is specifically designed to teach a particular skill, raise awareness, or change perceptions. Every element of the game is tailored toward achieving these educational goals, unlike game-based learning, which adapts entertainment-focused games for educational use.

What motivates participants to continue engaging with serious games?

The intrinsic motivation in serious games ensures that participants enjoy the experience, making them want to continue playing and learning. This element of fun helps prevent boredom and encourages deeper engagement.

How important is understanding learning objectives and the target audience when designing a serious game?

It is crucial to understand both the learning objectives and the target audience to design an effective serious game. This ensures that the game is well-suited to achieving the educational goals and engaging the intended users.

What should you do before starting to create a serious game?

Before starting to create a serious game, it's important to fully understand the learning objectives and target audience. This will help in designing the right game that aligns with the goals and ensures it's suitable for the players.