How can gamification enhance graduate assessment methods?

2 How to gamify graduate assessments?

When gamifying graduate assessments, there are various ways to do so, depending on the purpose, format, and content of the evaluation. For instance, you can use quizzes, puzzles, or simulations to test knowledge, logic, or technical skills while adding elements of competition, feedback, and progression. Alternatively, you could create scenarios, case studies, or role-plays to assess situational judgment, communication, or leadership skills with elements of storytelling, immersion, and choice. Additionally, you could develop portfolios, projects, or badges to demonstrate achievements, learning, or potential with elements of recognition, autonomy, and mastery.

3 What are the benefits of gamification for employers?

Gamification can be a great benefit to employers, as it can help attract more and diverse candidates through an engaging and innovative assessment experience that reflects their brand and culture. Additionally, gamification can reduce costs and time by using online platforms or mobile apps that automate and streamline the assessment process. Moreover, data-driven and evidence-based methods can enhance quality and fairness by reducing bias, increasing accuracy, and providing consistency.

4 What are the challenges of gamification for employers?

Gamification is not a one-size-fits-all solution for graduate assessment. Employers must be mindful of the challenges it poses, such as designing effective and ethical games that align with assessment objectives, criteria, and standards, while also respecting the privacy and dignity of candidates. Additionally, employers must be careful to balance fun and rigor, avoiding over-simplifying or trivializing the assessment tasks. Lastly, it is important to manage expectations and perceptions by communicating the purpose, rules, and outcomes of the gamified assessment clearly and transparently, as well as providing constructive and timely feedback to candidates.

5 What are the best practices for gamification in graduate assessment?

To ensure that gamification enhances rather than hinders graduate assessment methods, employers should define the assessment goals and target audience, choose the appropriate game elements and design principles, and evaluate the effectiveness and impact of the gamified assessment. This includes identifying the key competencies and behaviors relevant for the job role, selecting game elements that match the assessment goals and target audience, creating a balanced and meaningful game experience, collecting data on candidate performance, satisfaction, and feedback, as well as analyzing the outcomes and benefits for the organization.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?