Gamification: A Reflection

In August, I started taking a course called Emerging Web and Mobile Technology for professional development in an Online Teaching and Instructional Design graduate program. When I first learned the course was set up as a game, I laughed. I had never heard of gamification and my first impression was shock. Was this really a graduate level course? I am a college professor and thought that this was just another way to dumb down education. Okay now... don't be too harsh on me for my initial critique of the course set up. I realized that I was wrong after just a few completed "quests" (otherwise known as assignments).

Image from 3D Game Labs
www.3dgamelabs.com

Once I learned a little about gamification, I realized it was a pretty interesting way to set up and run a course. It's funny, after starting the course, I got really competitive about the assignments. I wanted to master all the material as fast as possible. Our course utilized a site called 3D game Labs. I continued to work through the "quests" and worked to get them complete. While I knew it was not a race, I keep on completing assignments every chance I got. I wanted to finish the course and win the game. ;)

A funny thing happened, as it turned out. I realized that I had learned a lot of information without even feeling like I was even trying. It was really a funny experience. I started using the technology in everyday life and in my biology courses I teach at the college without really thinking about it. I started having discussions about various ways to incorporate knew teaching ideas in the classroom without realizing (at least at first) that it was the information that I learned in the course. By using gamification, I was learning while playing a game. It is funny. I really did not realize how much I was getting out of the course until I was standing in front of my students teaching or in my office planning for something to do in my course. While doing the coursework, I felt like I was playing a game and trying to get enough points to get that ultimate grade of an A. I quickly came to realize that the game I had played in the course, actually had me learn many new ways of presenting information and working toward improving my courses. It is really amazing.

Image from S. Prasad @ datasciencecentral.com 

In a nutshell, gamification in education is a way for students to learn information in a course while they feel like they are playing a game. As in the definition, the course or the activity is set up like a game and the students are able to "play" the game and earn points, badges, and rewards. It reminds me a lot of standards based learning, because the students can play (or resubmit assignments) until they master the material. I had never heard of doing this in a course before, but think it is a interesting tool to use to help students learn. 

I will say, I will more than likely not use gamification as a way to set up my entire course. I will, however, use some aspects of it in order to incorporate it in my biology courses. I think I could make some virtual labs and turn them into a game (like in genetics) to help students understand the concepts better. I think students would have fun playing a genetics game. 

My take away from this course is that I feel like I can open up my mind to new ideas and new ways to teaching biology. I think this course has given me insight into new tools to use as well as new ways to teach information. I think in the long run, this class will help me improve my teaching. In fact, I have already seen that it has. 

By the way... I won the game!!! haha