Neuroscience has demonstrated that games are a very useful resource when it comes to learning, regardless of whether we are talking about children or adults. Applied correctly, games offer great advantages not only at an academic level but also at a business and personal level.
This technique is known as gamification and it is based on offering a different path to learning from fun moments and challenging experiences that awaken the competitive spirit of the person.
There are several gamification types: educational gamification, business gamification, gamification in social networks, gamification applied to the field of health and wellness… However, its usefulness goes further. Currently, more companies are talking about marketing and gamification as the right way to retain customers, enhance brand awareness and generate interaction in the digital world.
Types of Gamification
Educational gamification
Learn math by playing? Of course! In an educational environment, gamification aims to improve the teaching and learning process through the dynamics of the game. Internalizing content and increasing student participation is possible thanks to educational gamification, which, using reward systems, accumulation of points, rankings, missions and challenges, enhances the motivation of students to learn more and better.
Primary gamification
Within educational gamification, we find gamification in primary education. Without a doubt, it is a great ally when it comes to training students at this stage. And it is that, when knowledge is constantly acquired in a fun way, we achieve that students are predisposed to absorb more knowledge. Perfect so that no student gets bored in class!
Now, you are probably wondering if gamifying is only for educating. The good news, both for teachers and parents, is that games in academic contexts make it possible to change the behaviors of the little ones in the classroom, an issue that also carries over the behavior at home.
Question and answer games, Trivia type mechanics, digital platforms that encourage reading, and apps with multiple-choice questions are just some examples of gamification tools that can be developed in the classroom.
Secondary gamification
Can you imagine that in your natural science classes you would have become a doctor who saved people’s lives with the help of your fellow doctors? What if the ultimate goal would had been to become the director of a virtual hospital? We are sure that your motivation would not have been the same as studying only with a book in your hand.
This is what gamification achieves in secondary education: students who take on challenges and try to overcome them with the guidance of a teacher who understands their concerns and motivations. Without a doubt, the game applied to education in the institute, encourages active learning and gets the student to show interest in those subjects that, a priori, are considered very complex or difficult.
Another benefit on the game in educational environments is that students work in their emotional intelligence and learn how to work as a team.
Business gamification
How many times during your professional life have you had to attend endless and not very dynamic trainings? Surely many! Companies have it increasingly clear: business gamification increases the competitive spirit of employees, strengthens their commitment to the organization, improves productivity, encourages creativity and helps workers develop specific skills.
It is about applying dynamics and mechanics derived from the game in a work context. A clear example is in commercial teams, where gamification plays a fundamental role when it comes to pursuing sales objectives through motivated, trained and well-rewarded employees.
Other sector in which we can apply gamification
As we have seen, gamification has multiple applications. Commonly, both education and business sectors are the ones that most take advantage of the benefits of applying these techniques in their environments, but there are many more possibilities. In the field of health and wellness, gamification techniques are already beginning to be implemented to help instill in citizens good habits for the prevention of certain diseases.
In the social matters, it is also possible to apply the game technique. NGO’s dedicated to protecting the environment have used gamification dynamics to transmit love for the earth and teach individuals, from a 100% collaborative approach, to recycle and respect the planet.
Are you ready to join the gamification revolution? Boost your creativity, achieve your goals and have fun while achieving better results. Whatever your sector is, you will always have the opportunity to adapt gamification techniques to your needs.
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