We evaluate the effectiveness of using Duolingo to learn Irish, given its use of gamification

1. Gamifying Irish-
language learning
Geraldine Exton; Liam Murray
University of Limerick,
Ireland

2. Duolingo
• www.duolingo.com
• Freely available/inclusive/accessible
• Crowdsourcing/Translation
• Irish track, August 2014 beta version
• Feedback from users
• Now fully implemented

3. What is Gamification?
•separate from Games: core of the
system
Definition:
•the use of game design elements in
non-game contexts
Deterding

4. Why Gamification?
• Motivational affordances
•game elements
• to increase participation and
engagement of learners
• Connect gamification and motivation

5. Motivation
• Self-Determination Theory
Ryan and Deci
• Three components to be fulfilled:
Competence Autonomy Relatedness
• Skill mastery • Choice • Social connectedness

6. Gamification and Motivation
• Taxonomy:
–Linking specific game elements to
these components of motivation
• Why?
–Address criticism
• “slaps” elements all over the place/
”pointsification”/ ”exploitationware”
–Work the motivational needs into
the design

7. Gamification and Motivation
Taxonomy
➢Takes 16 elements found in games
➢Looks at their target behaviours
➢Links these to Competence,
Autonomy, Relatedness
➢Shows why this is important
➢Shows when it occurs in gamified
system

8. Gamification and Motivation
Taxonomy
Game Element Competence Autonomy Relatedness
Achievements ●
Avatars ● ● ●
Badges ● ●
Boss Fights ●
Collections ● ●
Combat ●
Content-Unlocking ● ●
Discussion forums ● ● ●
Gifting ● ●
Leader-boards ● ●
Levels ● ● ●
Points ●
Quests ● ● ●
Social Graphs ● ●
Teams ●
Virtual Goods ● ● ●

9. Application to Duolingo

10. Gamification in Duolingo
• 11 out of the 16 elements present
– Highly gamified

11. Gamification in Duolingo
COMPETENCE
• Duolingo home
page: skills tree
(achievements)
• High emphasis
on mastery of
skills
• 9/11 elements
fulfil competence
needs

12. Gamification in Duolingo
AUTONOMY
• Duolingo lingot
store
• 4/11 Autonomy-
related
• Choice re: avatars,
discussion forums,
gifting & virtual
goods (lingots)

13. Gamification in Duolingo
RELATEDNESS
• Duolingo
discussion page
• Discussion
forums:
communities of
practice
• 9/11 Relatedness

14. Gamification in Duolingo
From Taxonomy:
• 14/16 Competence
–9 in Duolingo
• 6/16 Autonomy
–4 in Duolingo
• 12/16 Relatedness
–9 in Duolingo

15. Gamification in Duolingo
• 100 million users (as of June 2015)
• Language learning always looking for
ways to motivate learners:
• gamification is key to Duolingo
success
• Accessible, free, fun
• Community of learners helping each
other

16. References
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17. References
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