We are all most likely guilty of having a few games loaded on our smartphones, tablets, or laptops. Any time we have a few minutes (or sometimes seconds!) to spare, we unconsciously reach for our mobile devices and zone out into the digital world of instant gratification. While these are fun and help to kill time, we could make better choices with our spare moments by using what makes games fun over the latest trending yet mindless mobile game.
Deepstash Team • 9 minute read
If you want to increase your knowledge but have difficulties staying interested and motivated, maybe it’s time to consider gamified learning platforms.
Intense study sessions don’t work for everyone, and many end their continuous learning due to boredom or feeling overwhelmed. Fortunately, these gamified platforms and apps are an emerging alternative to doomscrolling.
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A gamified learning platform adds game elements to educational material. In a nutshell, gamified learning platforms and apps incorporate everything a standard game would have, but their primary purpose is to educate. You may have already played some online games that somewhat masked their educational function.
As per Jesper Juul's definition of Games and Play, where games are goal centric while play is free-form, we're seeing a similar pattern here when it comes to Chunked learning, where Microlearning is goal focused, while Bite-sized Learning is more of a free form , play-like approach to learning.
To better understand this concept, we’ve got to look at why games are engaging and fun in the first place. Intrinsic Motivation, Action & Reward cycles, Progress & Stats Tracking are core principles of why we’re even considering gamification, as such, elements like progress tracking, gratification/instant gratification, competition are often manifested through, now ubiquitous, mechanics like these:
Learning platforms are uniquely suited for gamification elements due to their goal-oriented nature. Learning inherently involves progression and achievement, elements often associated with other modern education principles and applications like, microlearning apps , bite-sized learning or continuous learning , making it compatible with mechanics like progress tracking, achievements, and challenges. Yu-Kai Chou’s Book Actionable Gamification explain these gamified elements through his Octalysis Framework way better. Additionally, the personalized nature of user profiles and stats allows learners to track their own progress and compare it with others. Another popular tool used by professional game designers is the MDA framework (Mechanics, Dynamics, Aesthetics) which is a game design framework that categorizes elements of games into three layers: mechanics, dynamics, and aesthetics—to analyze and understand the player experience. creating a sense of competition and fulfilment.
In essence, learning platforms serve as the ideal medium for gamification elements to thrive, as they not only enhance engagement and motivation but also facilitate the goal-oriented nature of learning and skill development. By harnessing the principles of game design, these platforms create an environment where learning becomes not just a task, but an enjoyable journey of discovery and growth.
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Now that you’re convinced just how valuable (and fun) gamified learning platforms and apps can be, you must wonder which ones you should check out. Hundreds of them are available, and the right ones for you will depend upon your interests, goals, and what you like in a gaming platform. Many gamified learning apps are good examples of microlearning , where users spend a short time digesting hyperfocused material .
With that in mind, here’s a look at some of the unique and interesting Gamified Learning Platforms to try out in 2024:
Deepstash is a modern Microlearning Platform that uses learning nuggets in the form of idea flashcard-like digests . These ideas are core or key points derived from that person’s understanding of a book, podcast episode, article, video or media. Since this form of Micro-content is easy to consume, share and produce it greatly benefits from gamified elements like Daily Streaks, Progress Bars, Achievements, Avatars and User Profiles or Social Elements.
As users curate and create learning nuggets , others are able to microlearn in short bursts those informative, key ideas. Continuously learning in this “gameplay loop” users earn experience points, levels, achievements and recognition that is showcased in both their individual profiles as well as in the Leaderboards of the different available Topics like Personal Development , Psychology , Science , Time Management , Exercise or even Communication Strategies.
Moreover, each user can view its own personal stats and learning styles, a feedback loop that is often used to keep the user engaged, aware of its progress and in control of its own style or approach to learning.
Key features:One of the more popular language learning apps, Duolingo, combines learning with friendly competition among other users. It utilizes a leaderboard to encourage users to practice more, gain points, and see their names at the top of the list. This gamified learning app encourages daily use by giving users bonus points for learning streaks to be used to unlock exclusive content, move up their progression curve, adapt their learning to their current level or ensure daily commitment through streaks.
This language app focuses on short-form content, making it easy for users to learn a new language. Learners can set their own pace and practice their new language skills while on the go. Duolingo allows users to take a placement test to assess their skills and skip some of the more basic lessons.
Key features:This app utilizes digital flashcards to present information to users, but they go much beyond the basics of what typical flashcards do. Lessons can be turned into a game of “beat the clock” by attempting to pair terms and definitions. Quizlet also uses spaced repetition, a teaching technique that helps store information in your long-term memory faster than cramming facts with intensive study.
Its well-written algorithm uses adaptive learning, so students face increasingly challenging material. Using the app's “Your AI Tutor,” a chat feature, users can choose a study topic and have the chatbot act as a study coach or prepare a quiz based on what they’ve already learned.
Key features:Codecademy Go is a gamified app that teaches coding and software development. Perfect for those seeking a better understanding of programming and the IT world, it offers users badges to show off accomplishments and points for completing exercises. Like most other gamified apps, Codecademy Go has a progress dashboard, so users can see what they’ve already learned and what’s to come.
Great for new IT students who want to learn the basics of coding and building websites. Users can choose from JavaScript, cybersecurity, C++, Python, and more courses. You’ll build upon your skills with each lesson and face new challenges.
Key features:Gamified learning apps are a fantastic way to excite children about learning. While some may shun traditional teaching methods, most kids are more interested in learning when presented in a game-like setting. Monkey Word School Adventure is designed for children between 3 and 7 and uses fun scenarios to teach the alphabet and basic spelling.
Children go on a fun adventure and progress through lessons by choosing the correct answers. Monkey Word School Adventure has gamified courses in everything from spelling to writing to phonics. Kids can collect plants and animals for passing lessons to add to their online terrarium. This gamified children's app is a great way to introduce kids to learning when they reach for your phone or tablet.
Key features:Gamified apps aren’t limited to teaching children or adults seeking more knowledge of a particular topic. Many businesses and corporations use gamified apps to build teamwork amongst co-workers or for on-the-job training. Scavify creates journeys for employees to explore and is much like a scavenger hunt, asking them to take photos or scan bar codes. This employee motivation app uses leaderboards to encourage friendly competition, and by completing challenges, employees can earn points and win rewards.
Employers are more likely to gain better usable information when their employees use the Scavify app. Employee surveys and performance metrics are easily obtained when presented to workers as a fun and friendly gamified app.
Key features:Learning isn’t limited to facts, ideas, skills, and concepts. Some gamified apps are geared towards learning more about our bodies and how to stay motivated to keep them in tip-top shape. With a fun name, this app encourages users to move their bodies and provides friendly competition with others using the app. Users will need to speed up their workouts when zombies appear, adding more motivation to get their blood pumping.
Users launch the app just before running, jogging, or even an indoor treadmill session. After selecting a “mission,” they watch a short video that outlines its entails. Next, they pop in their headphones and begin running or jogging while listening to music and occasional instructions. When they hear that zombies are near, this is the time to increase their running speed.
Key features:Kahoot is a learning platform that gamifies quizzes and assessments to boost engagement. Educators create interactive quizzes tailored to their lessons, which students access on their devices. In a live session, students compete against each other in real-time, earning points for correct answers and speed. For example, in a history class, students might race to answer questions about historical events, earning points and seeing their ranks on a leaderboard. This gamified approach not only makes learning fun but also encourages active participation and critical thinking.
Key features:While more scientific study may be needed to quantify the benefits of gamified learning platforms, some benefits are obvious and don’t need much evidence to prove they’re helpful. In today’s world of doomscrolling, online games, and shortened attention spans, gamified apps have apparent benefits.
Learning in short blasts can help combat this. Many have found that when coupled with a competition or the ability to “win” something, bite-sized learning significantly improves their motivation to stay focused when using a learning app.
As children, playing games was a big part of our routines. Depending on your age, this could have been board games like checkers or something more interactive like Super Nintendo. Even as adults, many of us still play games like Mortal Kombat, Minecraft, and Grand Theft Auto. Games occupy our minds and keep us entertained. However, the learning curve in this games is different than what we normally associate with learning.
So, is gamified learning effective? The National Library of Medicine published a 2023 report that suggests that gamified learning increases motivation to learn, and most who used gamified apps in the study were more excited about learning. A similar study, as reported by Frontiers in Psychology, also suggested that those who used gamified learning platforms were more apt to enhance student learning.
However, beyond case studies and papers, the intricacies of game design and how they work have already been proven and documented in renowned books like "The Game, the Player, the World" by the famous game researcher Jesper Juul or recent gamification books like Yu-Kai Chou's "Actionable Gamification" and Gabe Zimmerman's "Gamification by Design" which not only look at all the above presented game mechanics, but also showcase effectiveness.
While more scientific study may be needed to quantify the benefits of gamified learning platforms, some benefits are obvious and don’t need much evidence to prove they’re helpful. In today’s world of doomscrolling, online games, and shortened attention spans, gamified apps have apparent benefits.
Mobile learning and Microlearning are emerging educational concepts that aim to make the process of learning a more enjoyable experience. With retention and the understanding of information being huge pitfalls with the traditional learning methods, game design concepts like these are a prime example of taking what worked in gaming and applying it to different mediums.
Media has already shifted significantly to a mobile-first form factor and concept, just look at how popular shorts, reels, or TikToks have become over the long-form YouTube videos. It could be that our attention span has diminished, but a more believable idea is that since we've got so much information available, chunking is the best way of making the most out of our precious time when it comes to media consumption.
These applications are just some of the more unique and interesting gamified learning platforms in 2024, yet only in the educational field, there are already hundreds to try out, as gamification is no longer an emerging concept, but an established strategy that is found everywhere in our lives, look at Uber, Food Delivery Apps, Retail Apps, Every Subscription Service, Banking and so on.
Gamified Learning and its applications can become a very intricate study subject, since it is often comprised of smaller topics that enable it. Discover our Journey Collections related to this concept and explore unique curated ideas:
Gamified Learning is a foundational concept for us here at Deepstash, as we’re looking to integrate game elements into our Microlearning Platform we’re offering our Stashers the possibility to share the rewards of learning with people interested in the same topics as them. Learning is never an easy task, but as the knowledge is often its own reward, with the help of gamification we’re making that process a little bit more fun each idea at a time.
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