The ultimate guide to using gamification in learning

Everyone loves a good game, especially when it makes learning more fun. Want to use the power of games to – quite literally – level up learner engagement?  It’s easier than you think. This guide explains how to incorporate gamification into your corporate training, whether you’re a seasoned gamer or a total noob. 

What is gamification and how does it help learning?

Gamification is when you add gameplay elements into a non-game activity. In this case, learning. 

You might reward learners with virtual badges, add a countdown timer to create urgency while they complete an activity, or get them competing against colleagues for a spot on a leaderboard. 

The benefit? Think of how engaged people are when they’re playing a game. 

The most gripping games have people playing late into the night as they push to level up or complete a quest. While you don’t want to deprive your learners of sleep, gamification done right can significantly boost intrinsic motivation to engage with your content.

The stats say it all. 83% of people who receive gamified workplace training feel motivated, compared to just 28% who receive non-gamified training.

Gamification vs traditional learning: what’s the difference?

Gamification exists on a spectrum. On one end, there are fully immersive games designed for learning. On the other, there’s learning with a single gamified element, like rewards for completing modules. 

Whether people are learning online, in-person, or through a blend of both, the line between gamification and traditional methods is fluid. How far you take it is entirely up to you.

Types of gamification elements for elearning

What options are available for gamifying your elearning? Read on to discover the top ways to add gamification to digital learning. 

Storytelling

Not all elearning games include immersive storying, but it’s a powerful way to give context to other elements of gamification. 

Try positioning the learner as the hero. Start with a high-stakes mission, where their success depends on completing a series of tasks. The narrative unfolds as the learner progresses, with each activity bringing them closer to their goal. 

You could even incorporate video-based branching paths, where learner choices shape the storyline and final outcome:

Points, levels, and rewards

Bring elearning to life by taking inspiration from some of the classic features of video games:

• Let learners earn points for correctly answering questions, with a running total displayed on-screen. 
• Give rewards for milestones like passing tests or completing content—think virtual badges, trophies, or even cosmetic features for avatars. 
• Trigger a level-up when learners reach certain points thresholds, unlocking new powers, extra content, or helpful hints.

See how points and rewards can elevate a simple quiz in this example: 

Competition

Make gamification multiplayer by introducing some friendly competition – and a sense of social interaction to boot. Use leaderboards to position learners by points or progress, sparking motivation to climb the ranks.

Or keep competition more low-key by incorporating social feedback to show how peers performed on tasks, like in this sales simulation training:

Pressure

Beat learner complacency by raising the stakes and cranking up the difficulty as they progress. Make activities increasingly more challenging. Or introduce a countdown timer to sharpen focus and keep attention locked in. 

As the challenge grows, so can the rewards. Check out this example of a round-based learning quiz, where tougher questions mean more points up for grabs:

Mistakes to avoid when using gamification

The biggest mistake in gamification? Slapping on game mechanics with no real purpose. If you’ve ever suffered through a corporate training ‘game’ that felt pointless, you get it. 

Gamification should enhance your content, not just sit on top as fluff.

Avoid these common pitfalls:

• Irrelevant gamification: A health and safety Tetris mashup? Probably not the best idea. Align the game with the content instead.
• Random rewards: Points and achievements should serve a purpose. If they don’t contribute to the bigger picture, they’re just noise.
• No feedback: Learners should always understand why an answer is right or wrong. Clear feedback helps them improve and stay engaged.

Best practices for applying gamification to elearning

Get gamification right with these three simple steps:

1. Decide if it fits

Gamification isn’t always the answer. Super serious subject matter? Time-pressed learners looking for quick info in a pinch? It’s probably better to skip gamification and save it for when it truly adds value.

2. Plan the game mechanics

Map out exactly how your gamified elearning will work. Consider everything, including your authoring tool, activity types, and game mechanics. Features like rewards and levels need logic behind them. Use a spreadsheet to do the math for a seamless learner experience. 

3. Think like your learner

Don’t get so caught up in the mechanics that you forget who you’re designing for. Ask yourself: 

• Is the gameplay challenging but not frustrating? 
• Does progress feel meaningful? 
• Is the learning experience smooth and engaging? 

Always keep the learner’s experience front and center. And, most importantly, test, test, test to check everything works as it should. 

Common gamification challenges and how to fix them

The course of gamification doesn’t always run smooth. But that won’t be your fate if you use these strategies to overcome common challenges:

• Problem: Struggling to add gamification features.
• Solution: No coding skills? No problem. Use an authoring platform with built-in gamification features to add game elements without the tech stress. 

• Problem: Gameplay is too easy – or too hard
• Solution: Test with real learners before launch. If in doubt, start simple and gradually dial up the difficulty to keep things interesting. 

• Problem: Game features feel random
• Solution: Make them matter. Tie game mechanics to learning goals. Skip generic point scoring and design missions that mirror real-life situations.

• Problem: Points and reward system melting your brain
• Solution: Calculate the maximum and minimum possible scores. Then work backward to set fair reward thresholds. 

• Problem: Learners don’t understand how to play
• Solution: Guide them with clear instructions whenever introducing new game features. If in doubt, over-explain rather than leaving them guessing. 

Applying gamification to other types of learning

Elearning often springs to mind when we think of gamification. But non-digital learning can benefit from gamification strategies too.

Check out these ideas for game-based learning, whatever the context:

• Create competition: Split learners into teams for a pop-quiz, problem-solving activity, or race to find answers. Throw in a token prize for extra motivation.
• Set micro-challenges: Assign small daily learning tasks, like ‘find out how to…’ and reward with stamps or points. You could add a leaderboard to amp up engagement.
• Make it hands-on: Focus on the exploratory side of gameplay by designing role-playing scenarios or escape-room-style challenges that encourage teamwork and problem-solving.

Conclusion

When it comes to increasing learner engagement, gamification packs a serious punch. With countless ways to incorporate game elements in both online and real-world learning, the possibilities are endless. 

Just be sure to plan carefully to ensure gamification is more than just the proverbial cherry on top.

Want more tips on getting the most out of gamification in your digital learning content? Download the ultimate guide for elearning best practice or take this course on creating engaging elearning. 

Looking for an elearning authoring platform that makes gamification easy? Try Elucidat. Book a demo and start your own game design with a free trial.