Leading Change: Go Beyond Gamification with Gameful Learning from edX

“Leading Change: Go Beyond Gamification with Gameful Learning” instructs school leaders and teachers on tools and strategies to support gameful learning in schools.

Developed in partnership with Microsoft, this education course aims to transform teaching and learning at all levels through explorations of how the features that make video games great learning environments can be used in formal learning environments to increase learner engagement on a local, regional and global scale. By creating classroom learning environments that support learners’ senses of autonomy, competence and relatedness, school leaders are able to promote actively engaged and resilient learning.

Gameful learning is a new way to conceive curriculum and assessment that provides concrete support for personalizing learning for every student. You will learn to design gameful learning environments and apply a systematic framework that leads to enhanced intrinsic motivation and engagement for students.

This course has been funded by Microsoft and is part of the Microsoft K-12 Education Leadership initiative developed to provide resources to K-12 school leaders around the world as they address the unique needs of their schools in a changing educational and technology landscape.

What you'll learn

Why well-designed games are naturally successful learning environments (and 10 core design principles for learning games)
How gameful learning can help you create formal learning environments that are engaging for students
How to design curriculum for gameful learning and support teachers in using gameful learning
How to make a plan for creating gameful change in your school/institution and tracking progress towards success with gameful learning
How the thoughtful use of technology can support learning

What's inside

Learning objectives

Why well-designed games are naturally successful learning environments (and 10 core design principles for learning games)
How gameful learning can help you create formal learning environments that are engaging for students
How to design curriculum for gameful learning and support teachers in using gameful learning

How to make a plan for creating gameful change in your school/institution and tracking progress towards success with gameful learning
How the thoughtful use of technology can support learning

Why well-designed games are naturally successful learning environments (and 10 core design principles for learning games)
How gameful learning can help you create formal learning environments that are engaging for students
How to design curriculum for gameful learning and support teachers in using gameful learning
How to make a plan for creating gameful change in your school/institution and tracking progress towards success with gameful learning
How the thoughtful use of technology can support learning

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Instructs school leaders and teachers on tools and strategies to support gameful learning in schools

Provides concrete support for personalizing learning for every student

Offers a systematic framework that leads to enhanced intrinsic motivation and engagement for students

Supported by Microsoft and part of the Microsoft K-12 Education Leadership initiative

Led by Barry Fishman, Rachel Niemer, instructors recognized for their work in the field

Reviews summary

Gameful learning framework for educators

According to learners, this course provides a powerful framework for understanding and implementing gameful learning, clearly distinguishing it from simple gamification. Many found the content to be an eye-opener that shifted their perspective on student engagement, emphasizing intrinsic motivation and relevant psychological principles. While the course is praised for its strong theoretical foundation and valuable concepts, some learners noted it could be too theoretical and lacked sufficient concrete examples or step-by-step guidance, requiring significant effort to translate into direct classroom or school-wide practice. A few also pointed out the irony that the course design itself was not particularly gameful.

Changes perspective on student engagement and motivation.

"Absolutely fantastic course! ... Highly recommend for any educator looking to boost student engagement intrinsically."

"Loved this course! It shifted my perspective... The connection to psychological principles... was powerful."

"An eye-opener! This course validated many things I instinctively felt..."

"This is transformative professional development."

Offers a robust theoretical foundation and principles.

"The framework provided is something I can immediately apply in my classroom."

"Provides a strong theoretical foundation for gameful learning."

"gave me a formal vocabulary and framework."

"The framework for designing gameful experiences is a good starting point."

Clearly distinguishes gameful learning from gamification.

"I learned so much about the difference between gamification and true gameful learning."

"It clarified many misunderstandings I had about using game elements in education."

"The distinction from gamification is very important and well-explained."

"It's not just about adding game elements; it's about redesigning learning experiences..."

Some felt the course design itself was not engaging.

"...the course design itself wasn't very gameful or engaging, which felt ironic."

"The videos were mostly talking heads. Some readings were heavy."

"Needed more interactive elements to model the principles being taught."

Can be too theoretical, lacks concrete examples.

"wished for a few more concrete, detailed examples of implementation across different subjects/grade levels."

"felt a bit too theoretical at times. As a busy teacher, I was looking for more practical, step-by-step guides..."

"felt like a lot of high-level theory without enough actionable strategies for real-world school change."

"requires significant effort on the educator's part to translate theory into practice."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Leading Change: Go Beyond Gamification with Gameful Learning with these activities:

Watch YouTube videos on gameful learning

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Provide additional context and background on gameful learning and demonstrate practical examples.

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Search for videos on gameful learning in education
Watch at least 3 videos
Take notes on key concepts and strategies

Join a study group for the course

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Encourage collaboration and peer-to-peer learning, fostering a supportive and engaging learning environment.

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Connect with classmates through online forums or social media
Form a study group of 3-5 people
Meet regularly to discuss course materials and complete assignments

Mentor a younger student or colleague in the field of gameful learning

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Provide guidance and support to others interested in gameful learning, fostering a sense of community and giving back to the field.

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Identify a student or colleague who is interested in gameful learning
Offer your support and mentorship
Provide guidance on resources, strategies, and best practices

One other activity

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Show all four activities

Write a blog post or article on gameful learning

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Disseminate knowledge and insights on gameful learning, contributing to the broader body of research and thought leadership in the field.

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Choose a specific topic or aspect of gameful learning to write about
Research and gather evidence to support your ideas
Write a well-structured and engaging article or blog post
Publish your article or blog post on a relevant platform

Career center

Learners who complete Leading Change: Go Beyond Gamification with Gameful Learning will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Instructional Technology Specialist

Instructional Technology Specialists collaborate with educators to design and implement technology-supported gameful learning environments. This course can equip you with the knowledge and skills to integrate technology effectively into gameful learning experiences, making you a more valuable asset to your team.

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Teacher

Teachers implement gameful learning strategies in their classrooms to enhance student engagement and learning. This course can provide you with the practical knowledge and skills to design and deliver effective gameful learning experiences in your classroom.

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Instructional Designer

Instructional Designers develop and deliver learning experiences, including gameful learning experiences. Taking this course will equip you with the skills to design and develop engaging and effective gameful learning experiences for various audiences.

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Learning Experience Designer

Learning Experience Designers design and develop engaging learning experiences, including gameful learning experiences. This course will provide you with the knowledge and skills to design and develop effective gameful learning experiences for various audiences.

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Instructional Coach

Instructional Coaches provide support and guidance to teachers, including on the implementation of gameful learning. Taking this course will help you build a strong foundation in gameful learning principles and strategies, enabling you to effectively support teachers in implementing this approach.

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Curriculum Developer

Curriculum Developers design and develop curricula, including gameful learning curricula, that align with educational standards. By taking this course, you can enhance your ability to create engaging and effective gameful learning experiences for students.

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Training and Development Specialist

Training and Development Specialists design and deliver training programs, including gameful learning programs, within organizations. This course can provide you with a solid understanding of gameful learning principles and strategies, allowing you to effectively develop and deliver engaging training programs.

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Learning and Development Manager

Learning and Development Managers oversee the design and implementation of learning programs, including gameful learning programs, within organizations. This course can provide you with a solid understanding of gameful learning principles and strategies, allowing you to make informed decisions about the implementation of these programs in your organization.

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Educational Consultant

Educational Consultants provide guidance and support to educational institutions on a variety of topics, including gameful learning implementation. This course can provide you with a comprehensive understanding of gameful learning, enabling you to effectively advise educational institutions on the adoption and implementation of this approach.

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School Administrator

School Administrators oversee the operations of schools, including the implementation of gameful learning initiatives. By taking this course, you can gain the knowledge and skills to effectively lead and manage the implementation of gameful learning in your school.

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Educational Researcher

Educational Researchers conduct research on a variety of topics, including gameful learning. Taking this course can provide you with a foundation in gameful learning principles and research methods, enabling you to contribute to the growing body of knowledge in this field.

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Instructional Coordinator

Instructional Coordinators lead professional development initiatives that can help build a curriculum rooted in gameful learning, as part of their duties to oversee and improve instruction. Taking this course can help you build foundational knowledge in gameful learning design principles and strategies, enabling you to design and implement effective professional development programs for teachers on this approach.

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School Counselor

School Counselors provide support and guidance to students on a variety of topics, including academic planning. Taking this course may be helpful for you if you are interested in learning about gameful learning and how it can be used to support students in their academic endeavors.

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Game Designer

Game Designers design and develop games, including educational games. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in designing educational games that incorporate gameful learning principles.

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Professor

Professors teach and conduct research in higher education, including in the field of gameful learning. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in teaching or conducting research on gameful learning.

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