According to statistics, only 5% – 15% complete online courses and receive a certificate. This is very low and could be discouraging for a course creator. However, there are ways to boost engagement, which in turn could increase the completion rate for your online course. This is where gamification comes in. FutureLearn defines gamification as a “strategy that implements game-like elements into non-gaming activities to enhance engagement and motivation”. As a course creator, you could implement gamification to make learning more fun and effective. Here are 9 gamification ideas for online course creators to consider:
Points and badges
Assign points to different activities, such as completing assignments, participating in discussions, and achieving certain milestones. Offer badges or certificates to students who reach specific point thresholds.
Leaderboards
Create a leaderboard to showcase the top-performing students in the class. This can motivate students to work harder to earn a higher rank.
Quests or missions
Break up the course material into smaller, manageable tasks or quests that students need to complete to progress. This can make the learning experience more engaging and rewarding.
Interactive quizzes
Use gamified quizzes that feature game-like elements, such as a countdown timer, sound effects, and animations. This can help make the quizzes more engaging and enjoyable for students.
Simulations and role-playing activities
Create simulated environments or role-playing activities that put students in real-world scenarios. This can help students apply their learning in a practical way.
Storytelling
Use storytelling techniques to make the course content more relatable and engaging. This could involve creating a narrative around the course material or using characters to illustrate key concepts.
Unlockable content goodies
This option is appropriate for drip courses (courses where you release or drip a lessons each week instead of giving students access to the entire course upfront) Offer additional content or resources that students can unlock as they progress through the course. This can provide an incentive for students to keep working and help them feel a sense of achievement as they unlock new content.
Group fun
Encourage students to work together in teams on a specific project. You could take it a step further and have the groups compete in challenges or games. This helps to foster a sense of community and motivate students to be more engaged.
Get Personal
You don’t need any fancy software to do this, just your smile and a warm message š You could do this from your phone or with Loom. If you choose otherwise, Bonjoro and Videoask are good options.
Final Thoughts
These are just a few ideas for gamification ideas for online course creators. Choose techniques that align with your teaching style, the subject matter, and the needs of your students.
Which ones do you think you’ll use? Please share in the comments.