3 gamification examples you can apply yourself

Gamification examples, please!

Remember those days sitting at your desk, listening to your teacher? It felt like it took hours. As the lesson material was being discussed, your mind would slowly wander further and further away. Until you suddenly heard: “That’s about it. Any questions?” It remains deathly silent. You breathe a sigh of relief and leave the classroom.

What a torment. But why? Because the teacher didn’t inspire you. They didn’t tap into your intrinsic motivation. And above all: they didn’t cater to your interests and learning style!

Then the bell rang: time to go home. Time for less serious matters! At home, you could play. Outside, you held competitions with your friends—who could run the fastest, or who could hide the best. The competitive spirit in you awakened, and your focus on the game was the only thing that mattered at that moment. And that was truly fun! It allowed you to express your creativity and playfulness. At 5:30 PM, you were called: “Dinner time!” Oh, what a shame, you thought.

Wouldn’t it have been incredibly fun if the teacher had used games in the classroom? Or what if your homework included a game element, so you could compete against your classmates? Would that competitive side have come out at your desk, too? There’s a good chance it would! At least, according to the principle of gamification…

Fortunately, a lot has changed in education in recent years. Research has shown that you can indeed keep people engaged in a lesson through gamification. No wonder gamification has become one of the e-learning trends of 2022. You’re right on trend if you decide to apply it.

Because of the success stories regarding the use of gamification in various contexts, there is an increasing need for information and tips on how to apply it. In this blog, we will therefore explore what gamification is exactly and how it is applied. We will provide three gamification examples that will hopefully help you move forward.

Gamification meaning

What is the meaning of gamification exactly? Let’s start by formulating a definition.

Gamification is the use of game elements to make learning activities more challenging and fun. It is also described as the process where people use critical thinking while solving a problem.

You have probably encountered gamification yourself many times. Just think back to the time you collected ‘wild animal cards’ at the local supermarket. And remember how wonderful it felt when the teacher gave you a sticker for successfully completing a task? The joy and pride you felt when you received that sticker undoubtedly ensured that, from that moment on, you started doing your best to get another one. We humans are simply naturally driven to want to receive rewards.

Some examples of gamification applications from everyday life:

• scoring points
• competition with others
• following game rules
  

But gamification is not simply ‘playing a game’. It is the effective use of game elements to enrich the learning experience and make it more interesting. Ultimately, the goal of gamification is for your learners to become motivated and retain more information. Having a clear goal and receiving feedback on your learning process are essential here.

Take this example. You see that your colleague has earned more points in a week than you have. That doesn’t feel entirely comfortable. Is that childish? No, it’s very human, and everyone, of any age, knows that feeling. It encourages you to do your best and get your name higher on the leaderboard. Although such a leaderboard doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things, it can certainly feel like it does. Earning points creates a sense of satisfaction and happiness. This is related to the release of the hormone dopamine, which is released as soon as we are rewarded or earn something.

Such a game can also lead to interesting and funny conversations among colleagues. Suppose your goal is to ensure that all your employees fill out the satisfaction survey—a long and tedious survey that nobody really feels like doing. Unless, of course, you apply gamification and break the survey into several parts. After completing each part, someone gets points. The department with the most points wins a cake. You’d be surprised how competitive people can get, especially when it comes to food ;-) And the moment people start talking about it in the hallways, it really comes to life.

Perhaps you are also wondering: in what contexts is gamification used?

Gamification in marketing

First of all, the marketing field makes great use of the effectiveness of gamification. As a marketer, you could integrate this into your website, for example. Add valuable content, such as an online training course, e-book, or manual, and ensure that website visitors only gain access to this information once they have earned a certain number of points.

Even better is to ensure that your online learning environment (including valuable e-learning content) is linked to your webshop. This way, the newest customer gains access to your online training immediately after purchase. Take a look at the options Pluvo offers for connecting with your website or webshop.

Are you a marketer for a watch brand, for example? Develop an e-learning course on how to best keep your watch in good condition. This turns your website into a real experience, where your customers have to take an active role!

Gamification in recruitment

Turn your recruitment and selection process into a fun experience by having your applicant play a game. This is much more engaging than a dry questionnaire and difficult interviews. Develop a gamified test to measure someone's relevant skills and talents. Try not to make it too lighthearted, though. Humor is great, but the goal is still to identify the most suitable candidate.

Furthermore, it is important to consider who you are dealing with. What will the person's role be? What is required to perform that role successfully? And how will you ensure that you can compare candidates in a standardized way?

You can read more information about a gamification assessment here.

Gamification in education

Not to be missed: the application of gamification in education. Children and young people love a competitive game. There are endless ways it can be used, but a lifelike simulation is perhaps the most striking. In this scenario, the student can "engage in conversation" with a human figure on the computer, which provides automated responses based on the student's behavior.

This can be very effective during training on professional communication, for example. Have the student conduct a conversation with the computer and provide a number of options to choose from each time. Afterward, show automated feedback so the student can learn how they could have responded better in a challenging situation.

Another application is a virtual escape room, where children have to find a way out of the classroom in a digital environment. They do this by solving problems and working together. Anything but boring, if you ask us.

You can read more information about digital educational tools in this blog.

3 addictive examples of gamification in e-learning

Example 1: Quiz with a time limit

The first example is about quizzes. They have been part of standard assessment methods for years. What is new, however, are the elements you can add to quizzes through gamification.

For example, you can:

• set a time limit
• increase the difficulty level (while keeping the time limit the same)
• add a competitive element
• set up the option to share results via social media
  

Tip: a quiz is a great example of microlearning!

Example 2: A realistic case study

We touched on this briefly: a realistic case study. In other words, virtually simulating a true-to-life scenario. This allows you to measure a person's various skills.

For example:

• What is someone's conversational style? Direct, analytical, friendly, or perhaps expressive?
• Which conversational techniques can someone already apply? For instance, have they mastered summarizing and paraphrasing?
• Does the person know how to handle a rude customer?
• Can someone handle private data discreetly? Or is additional training needed to teach this knowledge?
  

McDonald's also uses this technique to train new cashiers. The e-learning simulates an actual register, including various scenarios that could occur with customers. A great and fun way for a future cashier to prepare for the job!

Example 3: the crisis simulator

The third and final example concerns crisis situations. You can probably imagine that these types of things are difficult to practice in real life. Fortunately, gamification is an extremely suitable solution for this! This allows students to master the basic skills of emergency response, for example.

A crisis simulator is therefore a useful tool for familiarizing students with certain scenarios without them having to experience them in an actually stressful environment. After all, there is no real danger lurking.

Ready to get started with gamification yourself?

In short, gamification is an effective way to make e-learning more challenging and fun, whether in marketing, recruitment, or education. Integrating game elements increases motivation and engagement. Some gamification elements are easy to apply, while others require broader knowledge of software and application possibilities.

Pluvo is happy to help you discover the possibilities of gamification within your e-learning.