Gamification vs
Game based learning
I could spend time here explaining what I think the difference is. The trouble is that I'm not sure all of the time. Although I have provided two separate definitions of these terms, suggesting that gamification and game based learning are two completely different things I think there is cross over. I think you can use a game and have it be a gamified activity or you can have game based learning without a specific physical or digital game, like a role playing game for example.
Instead I am sharing with you the opinions of people I respect. Educators, game players and designer who have a range of opinions on these two ways of educating. Hopefully, like me, you will end up a bit less confused and excited to try things out.
@steven_kolber is an English teacher from Victoria, Australia. Like many of the other teachers I have linked to on this site he is an innovator and boundary pusher. He uses flipped learning in his classes and is currently working on incorporating gamification into his teaching.
He is also undertaking postgraduate studies and spends his holidays overseas teaching international teachers.
This video is a great discussion of gamification and game based learning as well as using game as text.
@Capitan_Typo is an English, Drama and Creative technologies teacher from Sydney Australia. He is currently working outside the classroom but he maintains his knowledge and experience on all things education by producing the popular @TERPodcast.
The linked podcast contains an interview with @gzicherm, founder of Gamification.co, on gamification and education. @gzicherm was a pioneer in the gamification in education space and he has his own definitions to share.
The next thing I want to share is another podcast, this time by @Mr_van_W and @jfcatto. In Episode 2 they argue Gamification and Game-Based Learning and then in Episode 3 John must eat humble pie.
Check out their podcast webpage for links to the articles they are discussing and to listen to more of their charming banter.
And now just to blow your mind I'd like to introduce you to Keegan Long-Wheeler, an academic and Educational Technologist who writes and thinks about games for a living. He wrote a blog post responding to some questions about gamification and game based learning and challenges us, the reader ,to answer the questions for ourselves.
You can also find him on Twitter @KeeganSLW.
