SELS Dialogues Journal Volume 3 Issue 1

Educational Technology
Gamifying Learning
by Melanie Lee
For many, rote learning can be boring and disengaging.
Moreover, simply memorizing information or procedures
through repetition without necessarily understanding
the underlying concepts or principles does not
sufficiently equip students to solve real-life problems.
Thus, without any practical use, newly attained
knowledge can quickly evaporate.
So, what’s a better approach? How can educators
design curricula in a way that is both meaningful and
memorable? A well-designed video game may hold
some of the answers to how learning can be gamified.
Games talk
First, good video games immerse players in an
interactive world. In these alternate realities, players
make decisions rather than passively observe a story
unfold. In return, the game generates real time feedback
and new solvable problems, depending on the choices
and abilities of the player.
For school, interaction also needs to support course
content. This means that dialogue that augments
learning material will help bring ideas to life and give
students more practical applications with real impact
and gusto. This type of conversational reinforcement
also makes new knowledge stick and worth
remembering.
Games flow…with friction
Next, good video games immerse players in a pleasantly
frustrating experience by encouraging them to stretch
without breaking their backs. In this state, they are
motivated to embrace the struggle and push through
since they know the prize is worth the fight.
Similarly, when students are appropriately challenged,
it can place them in an optimal state of learning or flow.
Conversely, either an overpowering or underwhelming
learning experience can lead to emotional roadblocks,
which can have long-term negative implications on
motivation levels.
Games encourage risk-taking
In addition, good video games are essentially all about
taking risks. Otherwise, what’s the point? Players are
expected to get curious, dig in, and explore. Failure is
both a normalized and essential part of honing one’s
gameplay. Not only does this risk-taking enhance a
player’s skills and boost their confidence, but it can
foster a growth mindset as well.
On the other hand, education often sets up the
classroom differently in that there is much less room
for failure. When students perceive that venturing
down paths less frequently explored will result in bigger
consequences, they are more likely to opt for safety by
colouring between the lines. This may be deemed neat
and tidy, but does it foster creativity, critical thinking, or
a passion for learning?
SELS DIALOGUES | 4