Game-based Learning vs Gamification: What's the Difference?

What is Gamification? ... The process of adding game elements or mechanics to an experience to increase engagement or enjoyment. These game elements are usually ... MINDResearchInstitute About MeettheTeam Speakers WhyMIND? 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ByCalliWright Game-basedlearningandgamificationatimmediateglancemayseemlikesimilarandinterchangeableterms.Whilebothtermscombinegamesandlearning,thedifferenceliesinhowgameelementsareintegratedintothelearningexperience.Thisdistinctionleadstoalargerdifferenceinlearningoutcomes whencomparinggame-basedlearningvs.gamification. WhatisGame-basedLearning? Atypeofactivelearningexperiencewithinagameframework,whichhasspecificlearningobjectivesandmeasurableoutcomes. Thelearningexperiencegivesastudentclearandchallenginggoalswithinavirtualgameframework,requiresahigh-degreeofstudentinteractionandoffersinformativefeedbackonstudentperformance.Manytimes,thegamesaredesignedtoallowtheplayertounderstandthesubjectmatterwithinarealworldcontext. WhatisGamification? Theprocessofaddinggameelementsormechanicstoanexperiencetoincreaseengagementorenjoyment. Thesegameelementsareusuallyseparatedfromtheactuallearningcontent.Gamifiedlessonsoractivitiesmayincludeelementssuchasbadges,leaderboards,timedactivities,rewardsorpoints. Examplesofgamificationintheclassroominclude: Separatingstudentsintogroupstocompeteonassignmentsoractivities. Enablingstudentstoearnpointsforbehaviororcompletionofassignmentsandallowingthemtospendthepointsonrewards. Timedflashcardsorworksheets. Badgestoshowcompletionofworkormasteryofskills. Listeningforcertainkeywordsorsituationstocompleteabingo-typesheet. Usingdicetogeneraterandomnumbersforaworksheetactivity. Game-basedLearningvs.Gamification Ingame-basedlearning,thegameisthelearningexperience,whereasingamification,thegamecomponentsareaddedtothetraditionalinstructionmethod. Ingamification,theendresult(thepoints,rewards,beingfirstplace,completingasmuchaspossible,notbeinglastplace)caneasilybecomethefocus,ratherthanthelearning.Gamificationcancauselearnerstorelyonextrinsicmotivation.Thisisthementalconditionthatdrivesapersontobehaveacertainwayorengageinanactivitytowinarewardoravoidapunishment. Butwhathappenswhentherewardisnolongerrelevantorremoved? Inaddition,anumberofstudieshaveshownthatofferingexcessiveexternalrewardsforaninternallysatisfyingbehaviorcanleadtoareductioninintrinsicmotivation(Decietal.,1999).Intrinsicmotivationisatypeofinternaldesirethatisbasedonthesatisfactionsofbehaving“foritsownsake.” Ifdesignedwell,game-basedlearninghasthecapacitytoharnessstudents’intrinsicmotivationandloveforplayandleadthemtowardcomplexproblemsolving. Game-basedLearningResearch Researcharoundgame-basedlearningshowsthiscorrelationbetweenmotivation,engagement,complexproblemsolvingandothersocialandemotionalskills. Oneofthemorepopularinvestigationsisthatoflearningthroughfailureandtheshiftfromafixedmindsettoagrowthmindset.Astudentwithafixedmindsetbelievesthatintelligenceisinherentandunchanging.Astudentwithagrowthmindsetbelievesthattheycanchangeandimprovetheirknowledgewitheffortfullearning(CarolDweck,etal.) Thenatureoflearningthroughfailureandmasteryingamesnaturallylendsitselftodevelopingagrowthmindset. Exploremoreresourcesandresearchonthegame-basedlearninginfographic. Linkstogame-basedlearningresearch: AnInvestigationoftheInterrelationshipsbetweenMotivation,Engagement,andComplexProblemSolvinginGame-basedLearning VideoGamingCanIncreaseBrainSizeandConnectivity MakingPeopleFail:FailingtoLearnThroughGamesandMaking LevelUpandLearning:Anationalsurveyonteachingwithdigitalgames GamingMindsets:ImplicitTheoriesinSeriousGameLearning Game-basedLearningintheClassroom Howareeducatorsusingthisresearchtoimprovestudentoutcomesintheirclassrooms? RyanReedsharessomegame-basedlearningexamples and howtohelpothereducatorsgetstartedwith game-basedlearning. Withgame-basedlearning,studentsbecomemoreengagedwiththeirlearning.Theygofromstrugglingtofindingawaytoovercomethatstruggleandstartlookingforsolutionsandinnovatingstrategiesontheirlearning. -RyanReed, Business&TechnologyTeacheratStillmanValleyHighSchool Inthisvideo,MIND’scontentdirectorKiKarousharessomegame-basedlearningstrategiesthatcandevelopstudents'capacityforproductivestruggle.     Video:UsingGame-basedLearningintheClassroombyMINDResearchInstitute Howareyouusinggame-basedlearninginyourclassroom?Leaveusacommentanddon'tforgettosubscribetotheblogforthelatestnewsandinsightsonSTEMeducation,researchandmore! AbouttheAuthor CalliWrightistheMarketingManageratMINDResearchInstitute.Shelovesplayinganddesigningboardgames,whichsheoftentalksaboutontwitter @CalliWrights. Comment DiscovertheNeuroscienceofDeeperLearningatESEA ClosingtheExperienceGap SearchResultBy: InterestedinContributing? 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