Gamification is the process of adding game-like elements to a training program. Gamification makes training more engaging by incorporating elements of competition, feedback, and reward into learning.
You can integrate gamification into your training strategy through any of the following methods:
- Create daily goals or streaks to encourage learners’ participation
- Integrate mini-games or quizzes into learning activities
- Offer personalized rewards and badges at checkpoints or upon completion
- Create a theme, story, or quest for learners to follow
- Develop a dashboard where learners can track their own progress vs. others
Ready to learn more about gamification? Let’s define gamification, explore the difference between gamification and game-based learning, and uncover 4 key benefits of gamification in training.
What Is Gamification?
While there is no single agreed-upon definition, gamification is the process of adding game-like elements to a training program. Gamification makes training more engaging by incorporating engaging elements, such as competition, feedback, and rewards, into learning.
Gamification adds an element of enjoyment and healthy competition to learning through instant feedback, leaderboards, badges, and more. By using these low-stakes, competitive elements, learners will feel more incentivized to complete their training.
You can integrate gamification into your training strategy through any of the following methods:
- Create daily goals or streaks to encourage learners’ participation
- Integrate mini-games or quizzes into learning activities
- Offer personalized rewards and badges at checkpoints or upon completion
- Create a theme, story, or quest for learners to follow
- Develop a dashboard where learners can track their own progress vs. others
Gamification vs. Game-Based Learning: What’s The Difference?
Gamification integrates game elements (e.g. awards, badges, and leaderboards) in a non-game context, while game-based learning transforms core training content and learning objectives into games that motivate and engage employees.
Gamification is more commonly used in the context of professional corporate training, while game-based learning, on the other hand, is more commonly instituted in the context of student learning in the classroom. Game-based learning reflects a similar method to training as gamification by making the training itself a game.
4 Key Benefits Of Gamification In Training
- Enjoyment And Engagement — Learners are more likely to engage with their content when there are interactive, game-life elements involved.
- Healthy Competition — By adding elements of healthy competition into training, learners will feel more motivated to complete their training and compete with others.
- Social Sharing — Gamification creates a highly collaborative, exciting learning experience where learners are encouraged to compete with one another, share progress, and take pride in their accomplishments.
- Increases Knowledge Retention — When game-like elements are incorporated into corporate training, learners have opportunities to test their knowledge in creative, engaging ways. This links their acquisition of new knowledge to favorable experiences they’ll remember for long periods of time.
