Preface

This book describes how teachers can use Gamification design in their course development with the Moodle learning management system to build learner resilience and motivation.

Gamification is a design process that reframes goals to be more appealing and achievable using the principles of game design. The goal of this process is to keep learners engaged and motivated in a way that is not always present in traditional courses. When it is implemented through elegant solutions, learners may be unaware of the subtle game elements being used. A Gamification strategy can be considered successful if learners are more engaged and feel challenged and confident to keep progressing, which has implications for the way teachers consider their course evaluation processes. It is important to note that Gamification in education is more about how the person feels at certain points in their learning journey than about the end product, which may or may not, look like a game.

After following the tutorials in this book, teachers will gain the basic skills needed to get started with applying Gamification design techniques to their Moodle courses. They can take learners on a journey of risk, choice, surprise, delight, and transformation. Taking an activity and reframing it to be more appealing and achievable sounds like the job description of any teacher or coach. Therefore, many teachers are already doing this! Understanding games and play better can help teachers be more effective in using a wider range of game elements to aid retention and completion in their courses.

In this book, you will find hints and tips on how to apply proven strategies to Moodle course development, including the research on a growth mindset from Carol Dweck in her book Mindset. You will see how the use of game elements in Foursquare (badges), Twitter (likes), and LinkedIn (progress bar) can be applied to Moodle course design. You will use the core features available in Moodle. We will also explore new features and plugins that offer dozens of ways that teachers can use Moodle game elements such as, badges, labels, rubrics, group assignments, custom grading scales, forums, and conditional activities.