The Summer Olympics are again just around the corner and athletes from across the world are getting ready to compete for the Gold.
For the many who participate it’s their chance to represent themselves and their home countries, to perform at the highest level, and to celebrate athletic accomplishments of the past and present with the whole globe. Like other great sports events, there’s an excitement that builds around the spectacle, and when big things are happening on the path to winners stand, all kinds of people tune in to see it for themselves.
So what does any of this have to do with eLearning gamification and cohort-based learning? Well, potentially quite a bit! I mean, who wouldn’t aspire to bask in glory among their peers?
Let’s unpack that for a bit. Hit the instant replay button on past and present learning programs to look back at how those went.
Are there opportunities for learners to:
- Achieve important milestones and progress markers in the learning?
- Represent themselves as individuals, in small groups, or teams?
- Be recognized for their real-world expertise and contributions?
- Be challenged to apply new skills and improve in their role?
- Join in on friendly competition for bit of fun and social interaction?
If you answered yes to any of these, you’re most likely in agreement that there’s room for learners to get their game on. Now pat your hands off in a giant cloud of chalk dust and get ready for gamified learning.
How to use gamification in eLearning
Here are some tips to improve engagement with gamification in learning:
Chart the course with progress markers and milestones
Ever thought about milestones and progress markers as stepping stones on a journey?
They’re the signposts that show learners how far they’ve travelled and how far they still have to go. What do these look like? One way to mark progress is to award points and badges.
Just as athletes thrive on going the extra distance in their training, learners too are motivated by reaching significant moments in their learning. Think of points and badges as tangible goals to strive for – challenges and small victories that pave the way for a big win.
For example, points and badges could be earned for completing key weeks or topics, demonstrating a particular level of proficiency in a skill, or achieving a major milestone like earning a certification.
Another way to mark progress is to build in recurring checkpoints. Think about what happens in coaching situations in sports. Yep, just like having time built in for quarters or halftime, checkpoints can be there to give learners time to step away from the action for a bit.
Checkpoints give learners time to pause, collect and reflect, or get feedback from coaches and peers. That means they’re able to apply what they’ve learned and make adjustments before planning their next move. A moment of pause may be as subtle as a note that poses a key question before going into the next topic. Or it could be high value activity that asks learners to put newly acquired skills into practice prior to receiving feedback.
Create opportunities for learners to contribute
Think about it, aren’t games more fun if you’re not the only one playing?
In cohort-based learning, learners aren’t going at this alone, they’re experiencing the learning together with other people. Learners can work together to offer insights and solve problems to the benefit of the whole group. That can happen via collaborative sessions, discussions, and small group or cohort-based activities.
These are an individual’s chance to shine, allowing them to demonstrate their experience and creativity. It’s also a chance to spark connection with new peers across regions or business units who they might not normally interact with. An intrinsic reward in this can be in expanding their network and becoming recognized for their particular expertise.
Contributions can emerge in different ways, it could be offering a perspective, setting the example, driving a conversation in an interesting way, supporting peers with thoughtful feedback, or bringing great insights and ideas to the table.
Points, badges, and leaderboards can inject a sense of friendly competition that learners can see as they try to move up in the rankings. A chance to be the top team on a topic-by-topic or week-by-week basis can motivate learners and give reason to celebrate their achievements. It’s a form of gamification in eLearning that can keep them looking forward to coming back.
Motivate learners with recognition and rewards
What would a sports matchup be like without the play-by-play commentary straight from the announcer’s box, and excited fans waving at the stadium big screen?
If you had to step away, you might just miss some of the best parts of the action, or even your five seconds of fame. Think of what sports commentators do that can add to a whole experience. In a similar vein, L&D moderators and instructors have an important role to play in learning programs acknowledging the great things that are happening and recognizing learners for what they are doing.
This is something that really differentiates an experience, and it can happen by way of mentions during virtual sessions and in program messaging like emails and announcements.
It can be a play-by-play highlight that recognizes great ideas being generated, challenges being solved, and collaboration that is happening. It can also be an “MVP” or super contributor award that garners a special mention.
In this example, a course facilitator sent out an email highlighting the comments made be some of the program participants to recognize their contributions.
Most people aren’t expecting to get acknowledged, but when your audience of learners understand that they are, it encourages them to engage more actively. Recognition and rewards are a great way to motivate and form a supportive cohort.
Give them friendly competition to look forward to
Can a little competition boost learning outcomes? Surely!
Get your learners to tune in and capture their attention by adding a little more fun, and competition into everyday learning.
Social elements like leaderboards, team challenges, and peer recognition can drive learner engagement and motivation. By integrating gamification and eLearning challenges that are aligned with the course objectives, you can motivate learners to focus in on applying what they have learned, to be showcased in results, or see if they can move up in the rankings.
At the heart of it is generating engagement among peers. In a cohort-based experience where projects and ideas are generated, feedback is received, and peers contribute from their areas of expertise, there’s creative problem solving happening. This can also be used to reinforce key concepts and insights, making learning more effective and memorable.
You never really know what each individual or team will come up with, or which underdogs might come out on top. That’s part of what makes it fun and interesting.
Summary: Combine eLearning gamification with cohort learning to boost engagement and outcomes
Incorporating gamification in online learning, especially in a cohort-based setting, can significantly enhance engagement and learning outcomes. Tips to improve engagement with gamification in learning include:
- Charting the course with progress markers and milestones
- Creating opportunities for learners to contribute
- Motivating learners with recognition and rewards
- Giving them friendly competition to look forward to
By making the learning process more interactive and enjoyable through gamified learning, learners will be encouraged to apply their skills and collaborate effectively.
Benefits of gamified learning:
- Enhanced engagement: Keeps learners motivated and involved through interactive elements.
- Increased motivation: Points, badges, and leaderboards provide tangible goals and rewards.
- Collaborative learning: Fosters teamwork and peer support, enriching the learning experience.
- Improved skill application: Practical challenges and feedback opportunities help learners apply new knowledge.
- Better retention: Interactive and fun learning experiences lead to improved retention and comprehension of information.
By leveraging these strategies, you can transform your eLearning programs into dynamic and effective learning experiences that drive better performance. If you’re looking for a gamification eLearning platform or want to see how to use gamification through the power of Intrepid’s cohort learning platform, schedule a quick demo today.
Want to learn more about gamified learning?
A study published in the International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education found that gamification elements such as points, badges, and leaderboards significantly increased learner motivation and participation in online courses.
Sailer, M., Hense, J., Mayr, S. K., & Mandl, H. (2021). How gamification motivates: An experimental study of the effects of specific game design elements on psychological need satisfaction. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 18(1), 1-16.
Another research article in Computers & Education highlighted that gamification in learning not only improved engagement, but also positively impacted learning outcomes by promoting active and collaborative learning.
Dichev, C., & Dicheva, D. (2017). Gamifying education: What is known, what is believed and what remains uncertain: A critical review. Computers & Education, 125, 101-118.
Frequently asked questions about gamification in eLearning
What is eLearning gamification?
eLearning gamification for corporate L&D uses game mechanics like points and badges to make online training more engaging, motivating, and ultimately, more effective for employees.
What is an example of gamification in the workplace?
An example of gamification in corporate training is a sales team training program that uses points, badges, leaderboards, and team challenges to enhance engagement, improve skills, and create friendly competition.
What are the benefits of gamification learning in an organization?
Benefits of gamified learning in corporate learning and development include:
- Enhanced engagement
- Increased motivation
- Collaborative learning
- Improved skill application
- Better retention
How to gamify learning for the workplace?
Four tips to improve employee engagement through gamification include:
- Charting the course with progress markers and milestones
- Creating opportunities for learners to contribute
- Motivating learners with recognition and rewards
- Giving them friendly competition to look forward to
