A flipped gamified classroom

The flipped classroom is a learner-centred pedagogy in which out-of-class activities focus on delivering instruction and in-class activities are re-purposed towards problem-based enquiry and group learning. This paper explores the design of one such classroom. The study draws on the results of a survey investigating the perceptions of students and tutors towards the flipped approach and details the findings of a focus group and a flipped gamified classroom for a postgraduate computing course module. The findings suggest that participants favour a flipped and gamified approach where learners are rewarded for progression and have opportunities to collaborate with others

Using Gamification to Motivate Students with Dyslexia

The concept of gamification is receiving increasing attention, particularly for its potential to motivate students. However, to date the majority of studies in the context of education have predominantly focused on University students. This paper explores how gamification could potentially benefit a specific student population, children with dyslexia who are transitioning from primary to secondary school. Two teachers from specialist dyslexia teaching centres used classDojo, a gamification platform, during their teaching sessions for one term. We detail how the teachers appropriated the platform in different ways and how the students discussed classDojo in terms of motivation. These findings have subsequently informed a set of provisional implications for gamification distilling opportunities for future pedagogical uses, gamification design for special education and methodological approaches to how gamification is studied

Company-university collaboration in applying gamification to learning about insurance

Incorporating gamification into training–learning at universities is hampered by a shortage of quality, adapted educational video games. Large companies are leading in the creation of educational video games for their internal training or to enhance their public image and universities can benefit from collaborating. The aim of this research is to evaluate, both objectively and subjectively, the potential of the simulation game BugaMAP (developed by the MAPFRE Foundation) for university teaching about insurance. To this end, we have assessed both the game itself and the experience of using the game as perceived by 142 economics students from various degree plans and courses at the University of Seville during the 2017–2018 academic year. As a methodology, a checklist of gamification components is used for the objective evaluation, and an opinion questionnaire on the game experience is used for the subjective evaluation. Among the results several findings stand out. One is the high satisfaction of the students with the knowledge acquired using fun and social interaction. Another is that the role of the university professors and the company monitors turns out to be very active and necessary during the game-learning sessions. Finally, in addition to the benefits to the university of occasionally available quality games to accelerate student skills training, the company–university collaboration serves as a trial and refinement of innovative tools for game-based learning

Gamification in higher education and stem : a systematic review of literature

In recent years, gamification, the use of game elements in non-game contexts, has drawn the attention of educators due to the possibility of making learning more motivating and engaging; this led to an increase of research in the field. Despite the availability of literature reviews about gamification and its effects, no work to this date has focused exclusively on Higher Education (HE). Next, worldwide there is an increasing demand for skilled Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) professionals that meet the challenges related to scientific and technological innovations of the 21st Century. This lead to the need of strengthening STEM Higher Education. This brings us to the purpose of this work: presenting a systematic literature review of empirical studies about gamification STEM related Higher Education. This review study started from a systematic mapping design of 'Web of Science' articles, with following inclusion criteria: empirical gamification studies set up in HE, published between 2000 and 2016; focusing on undergraduate or graduate students; in the STEM knowledge field, and set up in authentic settings. An initial search resulted in 562 potentially relevant articles. After applying all selection criteria, only 18 studies could be retained. 12 additional articles were included by analyzing references from earlier literature reviews, resulting in 30 studies to be included. Analysis results show how a combination of game elements (e.g. leaderboards, badges, points and other combinations) positively affects students' performance, attendance, goal orientation and attitude towards mostly computer science related subjects. The analysis results also point at a lack of studies in certain STEM areas, a lack of studies that identify the particular game element associated with the positive differential impact on student performance; a lack of validated psychometric measurements, and lack of focus on student variables that could/should be taken into account as mediating/moderating variables clarifying the impact of gamification in the HE focus on STEM learning and teaching

The Power of Play: An Action Research Study Examining Teachers’ Use of Gamified Learning Practices to Develop Habits of Mind in Elementary Students

The development of specific habits and skills is critical to students’ academic success. Costa and Kallick (2008, 2009) created a framework of these habits over their 25 yearslong collaboration called habits of mind. In this framework, Costa and Kallick detail the habits that students need to develop to be successful in school and beyond. An action research study was conducted to determine the influence of gamified learning practices to help students develop habits of mind in elementary students. The study participants were elementary teachers from upper elementary school in a large, suburban school district. Over eight weeks, five participants spiraled through three cycles of action research using Stringer’s (2014) protocol of look, think, act. Using observations, reflection journal, and focus group interviews, data participants explored a connection between specific gamified learning practices and increased development of habits of mind. The results of the study found that the gamified learning practices of avatars, points, leaderboards, and levels helped students develop habits of mind. Specifically, this study and its participants noted a change in habits—such as managing impulsivity, persistence, responding with wonderment and awe, and striving for accuracy—more frequently and with more significant discussion

English Language Learning Through Non-Technology Games: A Case Study of International Students at a Lithuanian University

Research on gamified language learning often involves the use of digital games. Little is known about the use of non-technology games in promoting language learning despite their accessibility. This paper aims to fill in this lacuna by providing insights into international students’ engagement in non-technology gamified English language learning in the context of a Lithuanian university. The research, which used a case study approach as its methodology, involved a total of 30 international students at a Lithuanian university together with their two instructors. They were observed for two weeks, and then interviewed by the researchers. An inductive thematic analysis approach proposed by Braun and Clark was used to analyse the data. The findings revealed that the students’ engagement with the non-technology gamified lessons have impacted them positively as they believe that they have improved English language proficiency and better mastery of the 21-st century learning skills. However, the participants raised several issues related to cultural sensitivity and blurred learning outcomes. This study concluded that non-technology games serve as a useful tool in promoting language learning in the 21st century if it is carefully designed to attract learners’ interests and at the same to time meet the learning outcomes. This study is hoped to encourage practitioners to experiment with non-technology gamified lessons and provide guidelines for them in conducting effective non-technology gamified lessons

The Effect of Gamified Flipped Classroom on the Improvement of Vocabulary Learning of Iranian Pre-Intermediate EFL Learners

The current study aimed to improve vocabulary learning by using gamification in the flipped classroom context. To this end, all of the study’s population comprised high school learners at two high schools in Roodan, a city in Hormozgan, Iran. The participants were divided into three classes, class A consisting of 40 students, class B comprising 40 students, and class C consisting of thirty learners. All learners were female. In order to ensure that the learners were homogeneous, the Preliminary English Test (PET) was applied. Class A was chosen as the experimental group (gamified flipped classroom), whereas classes B and C were chosen as the control groups. Data were collected through the vocabulary and placement tests. Results indicate that gamification in the flipped context could have a significant effect on vocabulary improvement. This study suggests certain implications for English teachers, policymakers, and material developers. As a new teaching model, it offers a new method of vocabulary teaching

Towards a Persuasive Design Pattern for a Gamified M-Learning Environment

New innovative technologies create opportunities for persuasive engagement. Persuasive technology is all about software, systems and applications designed to hook, reinforce, change and shape the attitudes of the learners without using coercion or deception. Persuasive design pattern if applied effectively and efficiently may influence learners’ attitudes towards the learning task, and may hook them to the specific learning activity offered via a gamified mobile application. In this paper the concept of persuasive design pattern in gamified m-learning platforms should be introduced to the scientific community. Persuasive design in a gamified mobile learning environment is described and persuasive set of design patterns appropriate to a gamified mobile environment is introduced. These persuasive design pattern are divided into three categories to suit to the appropriate learning environment