1. Developing Gamification within Moodle Function and Instruction
Presented by: Steve Bader
Learn more at:
Distance Education and Learning Technology Applications (DELTA)

2. Gamification Exploration with Moodle
Why Gamification?
What is Gamification?
Moodle and Gamification
The Gamification Plugin
Our First Case Studies

3. Reasons for Gamification
PRT 266: Introduction to Sport Management
The primary objectives of the course are to expose students to the range of careers
in Sport Management and to help them develop a career plan.
Students only focus on glamorous careers and lose interest in other career options.
Career plans weren’t diverse and students did not explore career options enough.
400 students enrolled per year.
Goal: Increase engagement and exploration in content and activities.

4. Define Gamification
Gamification is the use of game mechanics and game design techniques in non-game contexts.
Gamification uses the natural desire for competition, achievement, status, altruism and/or collaboration (depending on the personality type).
Non-game contexts, means no actual game play. The rewards are given via the contexts involved.
Source:

5. Gamification Components
Objectives: A behavioral mechanic type, requiring the user to take action for the reward.
Quests
Discovery
Goals
Progression: Move the user through the content.
Leveling
Progress Bar
Stages
Feedback: Informing the user of their status.
Achievements
Leaderboard

6. Player Types
Know how to target different player types using gamification components.
Killers: Driven by player vs player competition. How do I compare to others?
Explorers: Pride themselves in exploring all facets of a game or the context surrounding it.
Achievers: Look to achieve all objectives available in a game. Desires to beat the game itself.
Socializer: Prefer to socialize, play cooperatively, and share game experiences with others.

7. Gamification in Moodle
Existing Components
Restrict Access
Activity Completion
Badges
Leveling
Stages
Discovery
Achievements

8. Gamification in Moodle
Needed Components
Creating Objectives & Rewards
More variety in objectives
Visual Progress
Images, progress bars, status
Points & Leaderboards
Just-in-time feedback
Achievements
Course level awards
Some suggest showing the grade book or quiz results as ‘points’ – you need to be real careful of doing such things because of FERPA regulations.

9. The Gamification Plugin
The Block
Manage Menu
Point Sets
Achievements
Objectives & Rewards
Leaderboards
Configurable
Can link to larger list
Can show multiple
Achievements
Configurable
Can show unachieved
Multiple instances can be added to the course.
Can show one or more configurable leaderboards.
Can show achieved and/or unachieved achievements.

10. The Gamification Plugin
Objectives Rewards
Activity Completion
Moodle Event
Points Goal
Meta Completion
Achievement
Backpack File
Points
Filter

11. The Gamification Plugin
Objectives: A closer look
Moodle Event Objective
Uses Moodle’s Event API to listen for events.
Has the option to be a repeated objective
Assignment, Book, Chat, Choice, Database, Forum, Lesson, Page, Quiz, Wiki, Workshop

12. The Gamification Plugin
Rewards: A closer look
Filter Rewards
Uses Moodle’s Filter API to alter content in the course.
Filters can ‘stack’ or ‘replace’ previously awarded filters.
HS200: Home Gardening Course Example

13. Let’s put it together…

15. PRT 266: Intro to Sport Management
Sports Career Exploration
10 Major Career Paths: Allowing the student to choose a path(s) and begin a mock career.
14 Job Skills: Course activities reward job skill points used to track career development.
139 Job Opportunities: 58 entry level, 35 mid level, and 46 dream jobs (targeted by the student)
58 entry level 35 mid level 46 dream level
75 Course Activities: Spread throughout the career to help build job skills and deliver course material to students
36 Achievements: Ranging in difficulty

16. PRT 266: Intro to Sports Management
The Results
Fall Spring 2015
Higher average grade
3 point jump in grades, with a smaller S.D.
Mean:
S.D
Content explanation
The instructor explained material well.
Mean:
S.D
Effective instructor Overall, the instructor was an effective teacher.
Mean:
S.D
Excellent course Overall, this course was excellent.
Mean:
S.D

17. HS 495: Plant Identification
Another Example
14 Students
Online / Distance Education Course
All Students Passed
309 Gamification Objectives
81 Objectives attached to optional activities
73% of objectives completed
46% of attached to optional activities
49 Available Achievements Ranging in difficulty
54% achieved
Intrepid Traveler
Eat Your Greens
Trees Guru

18. ELI Presentation An interactive, gamified presentation
Presentation was delivered from a gamified Moodle course
Audience was encouraged to follow along with activities
52 members participated in course
62 were in the audience. 70 more have registered since the presentation
4 members reached maximum points
2 were in the online audience
Over 100 forum posts where created
Several were used in the Q&A at the end of the presentation

19. What’s Next? More trials, module changes MB 411: Immunology
Creating a card study tool collection using the gamification module filter reward.
Sharing with Moodle Community
Working with Campus Office of Information Technology for permission.

20. Questions? Contact Me Thank You! Be gentle… I won’t mind
About the definition of Gamification?
The concept is still kind of evolving...
@smbader
About the module?
Also still evolving but stable!
About some of the pilot courses? Learning more every semester…
Thank You!
Distance Education and Learning Technology Applications (DELTA)