The instinct to play is one of the best motivators for people of all ages. We explain exactly what the buzzword “Gamification” means – and how you can properly harness the instinct to play in professional training so that your course participants learn with fun and motivation!
What is Gamification?
Gamification is not only interesting for professional training, but has been a well-known concept in other areas for several years.
Gamification means the transfer of game elements into a non-game environment. (...) In doing so, gamification utilizes our natural instinct to play to increase motivation, so that monotonous, unpopular, or complex tasks are still fun.”
(Source: SWR. Gamification: How the instinct to play grabs us)
This principle does not only work with children: the instinct to play is not lost in adulthood and shows up everywhere in daily life. Board and computer games are typical examples. Perhaps you collect reward points for shopping bonuses, or awards in sports? Wonderful, that is also gamification!
It's not just children who like to play: adults can also be motivated to learn through the instinct to play.
How does learning via Gamification work?
There are two types of motivation to learn something new: either the motivation comes from the outside, for example from school or from the employer, and you have to learn. Or you want to learn because you benefit from it, for example good grades or a higher professional position.
Gamification aims to provide people with certain incentives and thereby promote the desire to learn. Such incentive systems can be implemented particularly well in digital learning. Progress indicators, points, or small rewards give learners immediate feedback on their learning status and motivate them to keep going. As a result, attention remains higher and the learning process is experienced as active progress.
Incentives can include, for example:
Receiving experience points to fill a progress bar.
Unlocking new challenges and levels.
Earning awards for one's own performance.
To obtain these incentives, new skills must be learned or solution strategies developed. In short: the player learns quickly, effectively, and purposefully – and has fun doing so!
Games are not just a pastime. Through games, we learn strategic thinking, problem solving, and how to continuously improve our own skills.
How do you use Gamification in professional training?
How gamification can be effectively used in professional training is explained by Martin Röhsner in an interview for the magazine “Training Aktuell”. I've summarized the examples of incentive systems in corporate training for you:
Offer participating employees a small reward if they answer questions correctly during the in-person seminar, for example a piece of chocolate.
Offer a special gift if the content has been well learned and retained, for example a book on the seminar topic.
Expand classroom training sessions and offer matching games or tasks online.
You can read the full interview with Martin Röhsner here: Interview on "Gamification in corporate training"
Gamification in Online Courses
Particularly in online extensions, I see many opportunities to use playful components: I am thinking of an online course with
“Awards” at the end of a quiz on the learning material.
“Learning levels” with increasing difficulty of the content.
“Bonus content” that is unlocked after passing difficult exams.
Motivate your participant in the online course with very special incentives and awaken their instinct to play!
Conclusion
Gamification shows that learning becomes significantly more motivating when playful incentives accompany the learning process.
Through points, levels, awards, or small rewards, an additional incentive is created to engage with the learning content. Especially in digital learning, such mechanisms help to maintain the attention and motivation of the participants over a longer period of time.
However, it is important that gamification does not become an end in itself. The playful elements should always contribute to better achieving learning goals and meaningfully supporting the learning process.
Used correctly, gamification not only makes training more entertaining, but also helps to make learning progress visible and actively involve participants in the learning process.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
What does Gamification mean in professional training?
Gamification transfers game elements such as points, levels, or awards to learning processes to increase motivation and readiness to learn.
Why does Gamification also work for adults?
Adults also respond positively to playful incentives. Visible progress, rewards, and challenges promote motivation and support learning success.
Which Gamification elements are suitable for online courses?
Progress indicators, levels, quiz awards, unlockable bonus content, and small rewards for achieved learning goals have proven effective.
Can Gamification also be used in Blended Learning?
Yes. The combination of in-person events and digital learning phases, in which playful elements accompany the learning process, is particularly effective.
What should I look out for in Gamification?
Gamification should always support the learning goals. Game mechanics only work if they are meaningfully integrated into the didactic concept.
