Christopher Devers

Critical Perspective on Gamification in Education

Overall, this chapter offers a critical perspective on gamification in education and defines gamification as purposeful experiences that utilize game design and game elements. First it focuses on the basics of learning. Second it explores the advantages and disadvantages of technology in relation to teaching and learning, as many technologies share similar traits. Third it examines how technology has influenced education (i.e., reform) in the past, and offers insight on the impact games may have on education. Fourth it reviews gaming research and what it means to student learning with respect to both current and past research trends. Last, it contends that using a scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) framework can help create a more evidence based approach to the use of gamification in education.

Encouraging Metacognition in Digital Learning Environments

This chapter provides an overview of the theory of metacognition, empirical evidence regarding how to increase learning, and examples of how it can be incorporated into digital workplace settings. In a digital learning environment, the 13 principles of multimedia learning, coherence, signaling, redundancy, spatial contiguity, temporal contiguity, segmentation, pre-training, modality, multimedia, personalization, voice, embodiment, and images should be utilized to increase coherence. Evidence-based learning techniques such as practice testing, distributed practice, interleaved practice, self-explanation, and elaborative interrogation facilitate the retention and application of new material. In digital learning environments, applying a combination of the 13 principles and evidence-based pedagogical techniques should result in increased metacognition, learning, and engagement.