#gamification is touted as new and a game changer. Full of hyperbolic claims about its efficacy, it’s not short of hyperbolic claims about increasing learning. Well it’s not so new, games have been used in learning forever, from the very earleist days of computer based learning, but that’s often the way with fads, people think they’re doing ground-breaking work, when it’s been around for eons. At last we have a study that actually tests ‘gamification’ and its effect on mental performance, using cognitive tests and brain scans. The Journal of Neuroscience has just published an excellent study, in a respected, peer reviewed Journal, with the unambiguous title, ‘
If you are looking to gamify your learning then think about the efficacy first. Research suggests it is no more effective than other methods at improvising mental performance.
