Gamification

Gamification is the application of “gameful” or playful layers to motivate involvement within a specific context. It includes techniques for motivation that have been around for a very long time. In education, instructors have used points as a way to motivate engagement [Page 322]with course materials. Businesses have used trading stamps, contests, and surprises to incentivize purchases. The military and scouting organizations have used badges as awards for special skills and meritorious activities. Hotels and airlines have had decades of experience with frequent-use programs that award points and status levels to loyal customers. Digital gamification systems take many of these concepts and embed them into the tracking of activities in the real world.

Gamification is different from game-based learning. Gamification involves a layer that motivates direct engagement with another context. Game-based learning is an activity where the learner uses a simulated or game-based environment to explore content. The syllabus can be seen as gamification that motivates learners to engage in the course, whereas a game designed to teach a subject is game-based learning. Gamification provides motivation while game-based learning provides content. This distinction is important because motivational techniques that are not harmful in game-based learning can be harmful when used as incentives for real-world activities. This entry first discusses the various methods through which gamification can reward behavior and some of the hazards of reward-based gamification. It then discusses the distinction between reward-based gamification and meaningful gamification.