#discussionquestion

Strayer HUM1121 Week 2 Discussion

When I think of Gamification, I think of Leap Pad, Duolingo, and even older games like Sesame Street on an old console. Gamification is used widely in Elearning apps and games. The achievements and levels of gameplay make kids think they are playing a game when in fact they are actually learning. It is also used in refining higher skills within jobs, such as Risk Management skills would be found in a farming game or a city building game like Simcity.

A company such as “EiDesign” focuses on providing this service to companies to help improve their employee’s skills. They provide long term gamification options, tactile, multi-platform and personalized gamification. They also have avatar based and leaderboard based games, depending on the requirements of each company.

One game example is Fold It- it is a protein based game that allows players to solve puzzles using proteins. It was developed by University of Washington’s Game Science division. It was meant to help them solve the problem of HIV.

In the Leap Pad world, a portable console that is forever changing and improving, kids play games while learning writing, math, syntax, and problem-solving. An adult version of this would be Elevate, a phone app which challenges you through certain games. You solve math faster, learn syntax faster and over time can improve skills you were slower at all while playing a game.

I have played several levels of the Elevate App and it always helps improve my skills that I struggle with. The downside to this is you have to be vigilant. If you don’t do the practice every day you will lose progress within yourself. That is where I think the downfall is with Gamification. It requires the individual to commit to the work of playing the game every day for fifteen to twenty minutes.

The Gamification is amazing on several levels, and the games that use this amazing technique are unique.

Growing up, have you ever felt that you didn't meet a certain expectation (ex. physical, motor development), within your group of friends or in the classroom? Looking back, have you noticed if this expectation or any others have changed over time?