Gamification employs game mechanics in non-gaming contexts to boost engagement, such as through points and leaderboards in learning management systems. In contrast, game-based learning uses full games to achieve specific educational objectives, often yielding higher knowledge retention. Choosing between the two approaches depends on the learning objectives, audience preferences, and budget, and they can also be combined for enhanced engagement.

1. GAMIFICATION VS
GAME-BASED LEARNING
@juliettedenny

2. INTRODUCING
THE KEY PLAYERS
Learner engagement is everything. As more and more L&D professionals
realise this, the appetite for solutions that encourage engagement has
increased enormously. Enter our friends gamification and game-based
learning!
With so many priorities vying for your attention, you probably don’t want
to spend weeks and months choosing between the two approaches.
You want to know which one will work better for you and we’re only too
happy to help you out!

3. WHAT’S SO GOOD
ABOUT GAMIFICATION?
Gamification is the use of game mechanics in non-gaming scenarios to
improve engagement by encouraging participation. These game
mechanics include points, badges and leaderboards (and more), which
are used to make unengaging systems more interactive.
In an online learning context, gamification has been applied to learning
management systems to keep learners returning, to encourage friendly
competition and to add a logical structure to their learning
programme. In essence, gamification turns an LMS into one big game,
the aim of which is to be the best learner among your peers.
Turning gamification features on across our platforms increased traffic
by over 50%.

4. WHAT’S SO GOOD
ABOUT GAME-BASED LEARNING?
Conversely, game-based learning is an approach to learning that
utilizes full games (not just their mechanics) to hammer home
designated learning objectives. This covers a number of applications
including the use of custom designed games to deliver a particular
learning objective, and the use of pre-existing games to reinforce a
particular concept.
Because of their interactive nature, games are inherently more
engaging than traditional learning methods, but does this
engagement pay off? A study by the UC-Denver Business School
suggests so – they discovered that people who played learning games
ended up with 11% higher factual knowledge, 14% higher skill-based
knowledge, and 9% higher retention rate than those who used other
methods.

5. ANOTHER TERM
YOU NEED TO KNOW
But wait, there’s more. ‘Serious Games’ are games that have been
designed for loftier purposes than pure entertainment. Whilst
entertainment may still be a by-product of the overall experience,
serious games ultimately aim to enact some kind of change in
understanding, attitude or behavior in the player.
As such, serious games are often the medium through which game-
based learning experiences occur. But they’re not the only vehicle for
game-based learning experiences. Consider this: you’re just as capable
of learning something new from an entertainment-focused Hollywood
blockbuster as you are from a educationally-focused documentary film.
The same holds true of serious games and regular games.

6. WHICH
IS MORE EFFECTIVE?
In many ways, gamification is more versatile and less intrusive than game-based
learning. Whilst some may be put off by the idea of playing a game, using game
mechanics can provide a gentle push in the right direction.
On the other hand, if you have something you want to communicate with
impact, delivering it through a game-based learning approach can help. The
medium alone communicates the content’s importance and the fun factor can
help encourage repeat plays, which drives increased knowledge intake and
increases the likelihood of behaviour change.
Both have different cost-implications and require different levels of planning.
There’s also no reason why the two approaches can’t be combined to create
additional levels of engagement. Ultimately, picking the right approach requires
assessing your objectives, consulting your audience and aligning your budget.