Greetings Visitor! My name is Christopher, your assist-bot on this mission.

As a teacher, you’re always looking for new and innovative ways to engage and motivate your students. That’s why I want to talk to you today about two approaches to applying games to education: gamification, and gameful learning.

Although these terms are often used interchangeably, each of these approaches has its own unique features and benefits, and understanding the differences between them can help you choose the best approach for your own teaching practice. So, let’s dive in!

Gamification

Use of game mechanics and design elements in non-game contexts, such as education or marketing, to drive engagement and motivation. This approach uses elements like points, badges, and leaderboards to incentivize and reward desired behaviors.

Examples of gamification in education include class competitions, rewards for completing assignments, and gamified assessments.

Gameful Learning

This approach emphasizes the importance of creating a playful and engaging learning environment, where students can explore, experiment, and take risks without fear of failure.

Examples of gameful learning include incorporating elements of play into lessons, allowing students to take on roles and characters, and using games and simulations as a way to explore real-world problems and challenges.