The document discusses the differences between instructional design, gamification, and game-based learning. It tells a story about forest animals whose declining economy forces them to learn new skills. A gamification expert, game designer, and instructional designer try boosting animal engagement but confuse the animals with different approaches. They hire a game thinking consultant who suggests focusing on action over content and designing for all player types. The document advocates applying game elements and mechanics based on learning objectives rather than content.

1. …who does not understand the
difference between Gamification,
Game-Based Learning and
Game Thinking?
Am I the only idiot…
Let’s connect: @rabbitoreg

2. Thiagi’s words:
“For a long time I thought I was the only
idiot who got confused by the
terms gaming, game-based training,
and gamification.”

3. “Once upon a time, there was an
enchanted forest, where @Grandma,
@LittleRed and @Mr.Hunter lived…”

4. “Not happily. The declining forest
economy…”

5. “And the high animal disengagement
forced them to re-enter the
workforce…”

6. “So they reinvented themselves…”
Instructional Forest Designer
Gamification Forest Guru
Game Forest Designer

7. “They had one common goal: to boost
animal engagement in forest learning.”
Instructional Forest Designer
Gamification Forest Guru
Game Forest Designer

8. “But the animals got more confused
than ever… Except the pig.”
Instructional Forest Designer:
ADDIE or SAM?!
Gamification Forest Guru:
Points, Badges and Leaderboard!!
Game Forest Designer:
MDA!
IDIOTS!

9. “They get together to discuss their
observations…”

10. “The animals all passed the SCORM trade
test at school (except the pig)…”
Instructional Forest Designer

11. “But forgot everything in the field. They
just wanted to play all day. Except the
pig...”
Game Forest Designer

12. “While they were motivated by food for the first
month, they hated the gamified race after.
Including the leaderboard (except the pig)…”
Gamification Forest Guru

13. “What’s up with this pig?”

14. “In desperation, the trio hired a Game
Thinking consultant. To pick his brain.”

15. “The consultant suggested moving from
the current, content-driven to a new,
action-driven approach. And he did…”

16. Motivation Fun
Learning
Instructional Design
Gamification Game Design

17. Instructional Design
Gamification Game Design
Game Thinking: the art and science of
motivation and engagement via applied game
element and design. Follow the arrow!

18. Instructional Design
Gamification Game Design
G a m e T h i n k i n g

19. Gamification Game Design
G a m e T h i n k i n g
ACTION
CONTENT
No Gameplay Gameplay
Instructional Design
Check out Karl Kapp, Andrzej Marczewski, Yu-
Kai Chou, Monica Cornetti and Amy Jo Kim.

20. Gamification Game Design
G a m e T h i n k i n g
ACTION
CONTENT
No Gameplay Gameplay
Instructional Design
Your learning/performance objectives
should define the direction (angle of
arrow)! Think ACTION, not CONTENT!!

21. “What about that pig, who does not like
playing games? Yet, he’s on top of the
gamification leaderboard?”
What pig? 

22. “Make sure your gamification approach is
well balanced for all user/player types.”

23. …who thinks that your worst
game thinking effort you’ve
actually done is better than the
perfect one you’ve never had?
Am I the only idiot…
Let’s connect: @rabbitoreg