12 Must-try gamified learning examples to boost engagement

Gamified learning has significantly transformed the world of training and improved the way employees learn by incorporating game elements into the learning process.

It's been a game-changer, boosting engagement, motivation, and knowledge retention among learners. In this article, we'll explore some gamified learning examples that you can use to spice up your training programs.

What is gamified learning?

Gamified learning is a method that uses gaming elements to enhance lessons and course experiences. The teaching style motivates learners by awarding points, rewards, or badges for completing in-lesson games. It creates a sense of competition and boosts participation, ultimately increasing learning completions.

Gamification in e-learning makes learning interactive and exciting. It challenges learners to learn new topics and skills through games, puzzles, or quizzes that spark their interest. This hands-on experience helps them retain more information and develop more improvements.

1. Game-based quizzes

One of the most popular and effective examples of gamified learning is game-based quizzes. Instead of using the traditional multiple-choice test design to assess your team's understanding of certain topics, you can present the questions in a format that looks like your traditional smartphone games.

Let's say you're hosting a Zoom meeting and want to assess your sales team's familiarity with the best sales tips. Instead of giving them a traditional multiple-choice format, why not assess them through a fun Zoom meeting game like a find-a-word game? During the meeting, share a grid of jumbled letters and challenge your team to uncover the keywords related to sales tips. This makes the learning experience really interactive and enjoyable for everyone involved.

No need to waste your time on the complex quiz creation process. With Mitti (by SafetyCulture), you can have your game-based quizzes up and running in just minutes.

What’s great with this gamification software is that it houses a wide range of game-based quiz templates that are ready to go. Here, you can create quizzes in the form of an elevator game, an image/word match game, or a letter jumble. They even have a template resembling the popular game show, Jeopardy, which your team will surely enjoy. To speed up your brainstorming process, try out Create with AI.

As to how to gamify learning with Mitti (by SafetyCulture), all you need to do is drag and drop your questions and answers to the template. From there, add a bit of branding customization to make it your own. Once you’re happy with your gamified quizzes, all you need to do is hit the publish button and share the course link with your team. Easy peasy.

Level up your training and create an unforgettable gamified learning experience with Mitti (by SafetyCulture)!

2. Leaderboards

Leaderboards are also a great gamified learning example that you should definitely check out. This gamification element tracks and displays the progress and achievements of learners. They bring out some sort of friendly workplace competition, encouraging your staff to snatch the top position and motivating them to actively engage with the learning materials.

Mitti (by SafetyCulture) offers its Leaderboards feature for those who request it under an enterprise plan. It gives large teams the flexibility to create individual leaderboards, where learners can compete head-to-head. They can also create group leaderboards to encourage teamwork and collaboration among team members!

3. Scoring system

Implementing a scoring system allows learners to earn points based on their performance on quizzes or assignments. This gamified learning example adds a touch of excitement and a drive for self-improvement. It keeps everyone in your team motivated and invested in their learning journey. A scoring system also inspires them to do their best to improve their scores and aim for higher point totals so they can climb up the leaderboard.

4. Rewards program

Gamification in organizations can come in many fun, creative forms. Reward programs offer incentives for learners to complete specific tasks or reach certain milestones, say reaching the top position on the leaderboard. These rewards can be in the form of extra company perks like an additional vacation leave, or even real prizes like a cool tumbler or a brand-new laptop. It's a friendly and encouraging way to keep learners engaged and motivated throughout their learning journey.

5. Game badges

Just like earning real-life rewards, game badges can also be an excellent way to acknowledge and celebrate your team's accomplishments. When your team members successfully complete their training or excel in quizzes, you can award them with special badges to showcase their mastery of specific skills. It adds a fun element of success to the learning experience.

Learners can proudly display these badges on their profiles, serving as a symbol of their achievements. Not only do they highlight individual successes, but they also inspire others to make the same progress. It's a friendly and motivating way to create a positive learning environment within your team.

6. Quiz timers

Adding timers to quizzes is also a great gamified learning example. It's used by many training managers to assess their learners' ability to think quickly and make informed decisions under pressure. The idea is to set time limits for completing quizzes or answering test questions. These timers can be set at different durations, such as seconds or minutes, depending on the complexity of the questions and the desired level of difficulty.

7. Game levels and checkpoints

Breaking down the learning content into levels and checkpoints gives your team a clear sense of progression and accomplishment. Learners unlock new levels or reach checkpoints by successfully completing tasks or learning new skills. It's an effective way to tap into your learners' competitive spirit and encourage healthy competition among peers as they try to race to the higher spot on the leaderboard.

Just a quick heads up that this specific game-based training example might require more time and effort. This is mostly because you’ll need to create quests from scratch to make sure they fit your training goals.

8. Progression Bars

Progression bars visually represent learners' progress through a course or program. They give a clear representation of how far learners have advanced and how much content is yet to be covered. It's like having a study buddy who guides and shows them how much they’ve accomplished in their training and encourages them to keep going. It helps them to stay on track and celebrate their achievements along the way.

9. Storytelling elements

Incorporating narratives and characters into your gamified learning is a very effective way to deeply engage your learners in an immersive learning experience. Allow them to become part of a compelling storyline where they make decisions and solve challenges while acquiring valuable knowledge and skills. This interactive and engaging approach not only keeps learners entertained but also helps them retain information more effectively.

10. Certificates

Certificates within gamified learning serve as a form of virtual reward or achievement. When learners successfully complete a course or pass an assessment, they can be awarded a certificate, so they have something they can be proud of.

To take your course certificates to the next level, it would be ideal to personalize them with your learners' names, the completed course, and your own branding logo. And with Mitti's Completion Certificate feature, you can do all that – and more.

Here, you have full control to customize your certificates to match your branding requirements. Adjust the text size, add images, and apply your logo. If you have a global team, you can also easily translate the certificates to different languages, making sure everyone feels included and recognized.

11. Unlockable content

Next on our list of gamification examples is unlockable content. This rewards system gives your learners access to new materials or features after completing a certain task or goal. For example, when a learner finishes a lesson, they may unlock a special game or video.

The method encourages learners to continue their course, knowing they can earn extra rewards. It also keeps lessons dynamic, since they don’t know what will come next.

12. Virtual currency

Virtual currency uses digital coins or credits to motivate learners to complete tasks. They can use this currency to buy rewards, special items, or privileges within the learning platform, encouraging them to collect more by finishing lessons.

Since learners feel like they’re working towards their own goals through virtual currencies, this gamified learning style boosts engagement and performance. It gives them a sense of earning and accomplishment, turning courses into a rewarding experience.

Tired of boring training? Make learning fun with Mitti (by SafetyCulture) today.