Gamification in engineering education - An empirical assessment on learning and game performance

Area of Science:

• Educational Technology
• Behavioral Science
• Game Design

Background:

• Gamification applies game design principles to non-game contexts to influence behavior.
• In education, gamification aims to increase student motivation and engagement in learning.
• This study explores gamification within an engineering operations research course.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and deploy a gamified learning experience in parallel with a standard engineering course.
• To evaluate the impact of gamification on academic performance and social relatedness.
• To assess student perception of the gamified intervention.

Main Methods:

• A semester-long optional game was implemented alongside an operations research course for two groups.
• Game elements focused on Mastery (core topics), Institutional (university life), and Teamwork activities.
• A WhatsApp group served as the primary communication platform.
• Assessment included academic indicators (failure rate, average grade) and user perception.

Main Results:

• Empirical evidence demonstrates gamification's positive effect on academic performance.
• Gamification positively influenced social relatedness, including a sense of belonging.
• Teamwork activities within the game also showed positive outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Gamification is an effective strategy for enhancing student engagement and learning in higher education.
• The implemented gamified approach improved both academic outcomes and social integration.
• Integrating diverse game elements and communication platforms can foster a more holistic learning environment.