The training process is one of the sectors that has been the most affected by the digital shift undergone by all companies today. The advent of online training programs stands as a symbol of this landscape that has been transformed by the digitization of knowledge. To this end, can the gamification of eLearning be a game changer? Games can make learning more fun while developing professional competence. Millions have already benefitted from the gamification of remote learning seeing as how companies encourage this type of training which is both innovative and efficient. The question becomes: What role can gamification play in the overall eLearning process and what are its principal advantages?

For starters, what exactly do we mean by gamification? The gamification of online training programs refers to the integration of game mechanisms and signals into a training program all while maintaining the educational objectives of the module in question. Concretely speaking, this translates to the application of game principals to a given field (project management, marketing, management, etc.) complete with rules, scoring, avatars and also elements like competition, teamwork all rolled into a fun learning environment complete with positive reinforcement.

It has been proven that learning while enjoying oneself is easier as much for children as for adults. It therefore isn’t surprising that the gamification of training programs has become so prevalent.

More traditional forms of training such as on-site or remote present certain inconveniences. The integration of scripting or reward elements for attained milestones foster increased attendance and engagement. As much as such programs provide direct feedback and evaluation of progress they also provide a sense of accomplishment at each new stage.

That being said, the educational quality of your training program remains a crucial component. The objective of trainees is to find a solution to their problem at hand. A clever scripting combined with the perfect mix collaboration and competition within the levels of a game which fall in line with a desired educational progression will make for a successful and complete training process.

At the end of the day, the gamification of eLearning employs methods that foster engagement in efforts to improve the overall efficiency of training programs. The challenges on the horizon will be technological and behavioural notably with the incorporation of augmented reality techniques in order to take the gamification process even further.

Caroline Irrmann, web editor