This document discusses game-based learning (GBL) and gamification in education. It defines game mechanics as rules and feedback loops intended to produce enjoyable gameplay. Common game mechanics mentioned include points/XP, levels/leveling up, achievements, and quests. The document also discusses concepts like flow, fiero, and affinity groups in gamified classrooms. Characteristics of a gamified classroom mentioned are starting students at level 0 and allowing them to level up to an A through quest-based learning. Different types of games for GBL are also listed such as tabletop, digital, and mobile games.

1. GBL
Games Based Learning

2. Game Based Learning
or
Gamification
is the use of game mechanics
in non-gaming situations

3. What are game mechanics?
Constructs of rules and feedback
loops intended to produce enjoyable
gameplay. They are the building
blocks that can be applied
to gamify any non-game context.
gamification.org

4. Game Mechanics
Cascading Points or XP
Information Theory
Levels or Leveling Up
Achievements
Blissful productivity
Community of
Collaboration
(Affinity Group)
Urgent Optimism and
Epic Meaning
Quests

5. Cascading Information Theory
Gamification of Education Infographic

6. Achievements
Part of the game
progression
Locked until you
complete a series of
tasks or assignments
Usually come with a
Badge
Shows status in game
Usually kept on a
leaderboard

7. Blissful Productivity
(Flow and Fiero)
The idea that playing a game makes you happier
working hard than relaxing would
World of Warcraft average 22 hours a week
Flow - fully immersed, energized
Fiero - Italian for Proud, Hard fun, the moment of
personal triumph

8. Community of Collaboration
Affinity Group

9. Community of Collaboration
Affinity Group
James Paul Gee’s book What Video Games Have to
Teach Us About Literacy and Learning
“Learners constitute an ‘affinity group,’ that is, a
group that is bonded primarily through shared
endeavors, goals, and practices and not shared race,
gender, nationality, ethnicity, or culture.”
Examples, Massively Minecraft, Club Penguin, WoW
Wiki

10. Massively Minecraft

11. Club Penguin Insiders

12. WoW Wiki

14. What are the characteristics
of a gamified classroom?
Instead of starting with an “A” and trying to keep it,
everyone begins at 0 and “levels up” to an “A”
Quest based
As quests are completed new quests are opened and
quests get progressively harder. You may not advance
until you have mastered the skill in the quest.
3d GameLab
Using the Education Gamification group in Edmodo

15. 3D GameLab

17. Types of Games
Tabletop or Traditional Games
(Monopoly, Chess, Settlers of Catan,
and Apples to Apples)
Digital Games (World of Warcraft,
Club Penguin, Minecraft, and
Portal, World Without Oil, Free
Rice, Darfur is Dying)
Mobile Games (Angry Birds, Stack
the States, The Math Mage, and
Words with Friends

21. Sources