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