What are the benefits and challenges of using gaming as an assessment tool in education?

I wish I had a gamified educational experience at any time throughout my life. not just K-12, but even undergrad and graduate school. Education would have been far more enjoyable by regularly challenging me to improve through a constant feedback loop. Imagine having this kind of feedback loop in all aspects of our lives: school, work, and mental/physical health. It would be remarkable.

Gamifying Educational Apps is growing fast. I personally use a language learning app Duolingo that incorporates gamification to create an engaging and effective user experience for language learners. Gamification apps create a fun and engaging learning environment that differs from traditional brick-and-mortar learning.

First of all the terms " Education and Gaming" need to be defined.What level of education and what type of games. Maslov's Hierarchy of human needs comes into play. In addition, the people implementing the assessment have to be well trained, have good people skills and have the ability to tune into the individuals state of mind at the time of the assessment. Motivation can change from day to day with learning challenges, intervening life activities and the assessors need to be able to take all of that into account, not just the technical results. "Cannot use a one size fits all" process.

The use of gamification in education has the power to transform learning into an interactive experience that is both engaging and effective. By incorporating rewards, levels, and leaderboards, this approach taps into students' natural drive for achievement, motivating them to continue learning. This method shifts education from passive consumption to active participation, fostering critical thinking and collaboration among students. When implemented thoughtfully, it can significantly boost student engagement and academic performance, paving the way for a more dynamic learning environment.

Through exploration, experimentation, and practice, we can quickly discover which types of games and subsequent characters, classes, or playstyles we excel in and enjoy. If we had a similar feedback loop in education, we would have a far better understanding of where to focus our energy or where energy might be lacking. We would also have an idea of the types of people we work best with, the types of roles that could suit us best, and a clearer path towards the future.

Games are not an assessment tool. I’m not an educator and I acknowledge that. ButI do have a 2 decades of experience in creating engaging content. A good share of that are games and games are about playfulness and meaning. Learning in games is NOT about completing challenges and getting rewards. Quizzes do both of these and they are not games. Games can teach skills and transferable knowledge but they almost always contain additional challenges that will blurry the assessment of the skills you want to assess. Respect the magic circle of play. Games cannot be mandatory to get grades. Else they are not have anymore. Play can be a support for learning but not an end. That would be mistaking the metric for the goal.

Players test abilities all the time in games, and an edutainment product is no different. If done well, the "real life" skills gained from the game can be tested in a safe, virtual environment, which makes it less threatening for learners. Additionally, feedback can be instant which is invaluable to any learner. Think about the score review in a game like Angry Birds. When you get two stars out of three, you want to try again and you want to improve in some way to get better. The same could apply to "hard skills" if the systems were designed to aid learning, not punish failure.

This is not talked about enough. The power of data is becoming more and more understood with time. Having key user insights shared over time can help the user appreciate the milestones they are achieving and push them closer to completion. Examples include “you have completed X% of your lesson, keep going!” Or “You have completed Y tasks this week, way to go!”. This kind of motivation fuels users and keeps them engaged!

Be careful with leaderboards — they are a double-edged sword in education. Some learners will be motivated while others will disengaged. Proper balance is needed.

I disagree with the notion that "games need to be aligned..." I think a better approach is to say that "the *use* of a game" needs to be aligned to things like learning objectives, outcomes, and standards. For example, you can teach narrative structure with many single-player games that were not designed specifically for use in the classroom. An educator needs to understand how to effectively map the game's use to objectives, outcomes, and standards, but it is not necessarily imperative for the game to be designed for and aligned to those things. Educational games, on the other hand, are a different story...

It’s not an easy task. There are so many different gaming techniques that can be used and so many rewards that can be administered to engage the users! The key is to start simple and slowly build over time. Start with a simple game and see how users respond then iterate as needed to create a more complete product!

One unique approach to implementing gaming in education is to use augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR) games. These technologies can create immersive learning experiences that simulate real-world scenarios, making learning more engaging and interactive. For example, students can explore historical sites in VR, conduct virtual science experiments, or practice language skills in AR. These immersive experiences can enhance retention and understanding of complex concepts, providing a novel way to assess student learning.

One unique approach to researching and evaluating game-based education is to employ AI algorithms to analyze gameplay data. By leveraging AI, researchers can gain deep insights into how students interact with educational games, including their decision-making processes, learning patterns, and areas of struggle. This data-driven approach can provide valuable feedback for improving game design and tailoring educational content to better meet the needs of individual learners.

Since education is a process where many factors interact, a concern about standardized testing of games' validity arises. Yes games can offer valuable insights into students' knowledge, but the skepticism about the reliability and fairness of game-based education compared to traditional one is valid and should be taken into consideration. A fair way to judge the effect of gamified education cannot happen without thorough research with gamers and gaming professionals included in the research process hand in hand with scientists and teachers.

Game economies frame monetization as governance does for business: • Player Trading • Purchase Limits • Dynamic Pricing • Reward Distribution • Virtual Assets Balance • Virtual Resource Funding • Virtual Currency Inflation Control Wish to play & learn economy at school 🔥 Imagine students learning economics through managing virtual game economies. This approach could revolutionize education, making learning • practical, • engaging, • and fun.

Diving into the gaming world in education doesn't just unlock minds; it unleashes an engagement explosion, ignites critical thinking, and nurtures adaptability. Yet, the journey isn't a stroll through the park. We grapple with screen time puzzles, bridge access divides, and weave games seamlessly into the curriculum tapestry. It's a cosmic balance, dancing between the benefits and challenges, to fully harness gaming's dynamic potential for educational enrichment. Ready for the quest? Level up!

Adv Games make learning enjoyable and keep you interested. You get to practice what you've learned in a hands-on way. Games tell you right away if you're doing well or need to improve. Games can be adjusted to fit your learning style n pace. Games test skills like problem-solving & decision-making, not just memorization. Challenges: We ned to make sure that the games actually measure what you've learned and do it accurately. Not all kids have access to the same games or tech, so we need to make sure everyone has a fair chance. Teachers have to figure out how to use games. Making good edu games can be expensive, and not all schools can afford them. We have to be careful about collecting and using data from games to protect your privacy.

Instructors all have different requirements for using such tools in their curricula. Providing flexible options will maximize adoption.