BROACHING BADGES The Perception of Achievements and Badges in Higher Education Lauren Hives, eLearning Applications Administrator Bond University Connect with me on Twitter @AshLauH
Jun 13, 2015
BROACHING BADGES
The Perception of Achievements and Badges in Higher Education
Lauren Hives, eLearning Applications AdministratorBond University
Connect with me on Twitter @AshLauH
tinyurl.com/badgebroach
ABOUT ME
I’ve worked in L&T in higher
education for around 15 years.
My background is in Multimedia
Design
I am a current student
I have at least 10 max level World
of Warcraft characters… o.0
YEP… I WAS A BROWNIE
OK… WELL I NEVER SAID I WAS GOOD AT IT!
Games Culture student
paper
Perception of Gamification
Perception of Badges
Application in Education
Minimal prompting
ABOUT THE RESEARCH
Educators and Students,
Gamers and Non-Gamers
43 Educator responses
and 187 Student responses
77 Males and 108
Females
Students
60% 18-24
90% <5 years
More but less
frequently
ABOUT THE PARTICIPANTS
Educators
74% 40+
85% >5 years
Less but more
frequently
Digital Australia
2014 (Brand et. al.)
Average age of
gamers in Australia is
32 with 47% female
and 76% over 18
Students
60% 18-24
90% <5 years
More but less
frequently
WHY PLAY VIDEO GAMES?
Educators
74% 40+
85% >5 years
Less but more
frequently
Digital Australia
2014 (Brand et. al.)
85% of Gamers
say games
reduce stress
FUNMENTAL
RELAX RELAX
WHAT IS GAMIFICATION?I S I T A B A D W OR D ?
Audience feedback
GAMIFICATION BACKLASH
Confusion and theory vs. practice
Common implementations a topping rather than a key
ingredient
Focus on rewards (not challenges, problem-solving and
mastery)
Not just behaviour modification through rewards
Using games19%
Rewards or Awards
16%
Application of game
theory and design
elements39%
Unknown or Guess16%
Using games17%
Turn it into a game
19%
Application of game
theory and design
elements22%
Unknown or Guess22%
Just add
points?
GAMIFICATION IN EDUCATION?
FEELINGS IN HIGHER-ED?
Optimistic
Curious
Excited
FEELINGS IN HIGHER-ED?
OptimisticCurious
Ambivalent
Irritated
WHAT IS A BADGE?PHYSICAL VS. D IG ITAL
Audience feedback
WHAT IS A BADGE?
SHORTCUTS & BAGGAGE
History of Badges – Military & Authority
“A Genealogy of Badges” by Alexander MC Halavais
Representation of what?
STUDENTS
60%14% Uncertain
BENEFICIAL TO STUDIES
EDUCATORS
33%35% Uncertain
Motivate me to do more
Improve my learning
Reduce my ownership
Be a reward
Change the peer dynamic
Acknowledgement of own learning
Are inconsequential to learning
ACHIEVEMENTS WOULD…
Make learning more interesting
Make me feel vulnerable or exposed
Fill a gap in recognition of skills and
traits
Are another form of assessment
Help set and achieve learning goals
Help me identify learning outcomes?
1.Difficulty
2.Relevance
3.Challenge
4.Type
5.Issuer
SIGNIFICANCE
1.Challenge
2.Difficulty
3.Type
4.Issuer
5.Usefulness employability
Who would you share with?
1.Family
2.Friends
3.Peers
4.Prospective employers
No one - 6th
SHARING
Who should they share with?
1.Colleagues
2.Peers
3.Prospective employers
4.Friends
No one – Tied last
Motivation and engagement
Improved learning through multiple means,
simulation and application
Enhanced recognition & feedback
Anti-boredom or fun
Motivation through competition
Stress reduction
Increased creativity
Distraction / focus off content
Anti-reality / bad habits
Dis-incentive for students who prefer intrinsic
motivation
Relevance to content and learning
Over-competiviteness
Forced participation
Issuer, Criteria, Evidence, Assessor
Time-consuming or waste
Negative emotions eg. depression, isolation
BENEFITS AND CONCERNS
Benefits Detriments/Concerns
SUMMARY
• Curiosity
• Willingness to explore the
possibilities
• Concern about implementation
• Able to apply learning theory to
understanding of gamification
and achievements and its
potential in higher education
IMPLEMENTATION
“100 read email achievement unlocked – woo-
hoo, tick that one up on the resume”
BADGES FOR DESIGNERS
Is there some sacrifice required?
Is it meaningful and relevant?
Is it a challenge?
What does it signify in context?
What does it signify out of context?
Is it overpowering?
Does it require a learning process?
Are there ethical considerations?
BADGES FOR INSTITUTIONS
Who is issuing the badge and what
does that mean?
Who can see it?
Who can interpret it?
What is the criteria and is it evident?
Is there an expiry?
Who is assessing it?
BROACHING BADGES
The Perception of Achievements and Badges in Higher Education
Lauren Hives, eLearning Applications AdministratorBond University
Connect with me on Twitter @AshLauH