Gamification is defined as the application of several traditional elements of playing games to other activities and areas with the goal of making something complex or difficult more fun. In recent years, advancements in technology and software have given gamification a new lease on life and has allowed the practice to be included in the process of learning and relaxing.
There are many benefits to making use of gamification to convey information and encourage people to enjoy the learning process by creating excitement and a sense of healthy competition. Many companies in Canada have recently embraced gamification and use it to train new employees who are working remotely.
While there are many advantages to using gamification, the key is to know when and where to apply these principles to achieve maximum impact.
We spoke to one of our gamification experts, Michelle Thomas (see profile), to provide you with more information on how gamification is used to increase engagement in many areas, including learning and having fun at Canadian casinos.
How Does Gamification Influence Education?
In recent times, Gamification has become one of the key elements of education and has been incorporated into the training processes of many Canadian companies. Gamification is used to modify the brain’s pleasure and reward centre, effectively ameliorating learning.
Gamification affects the learning process by establishing games, whereby participants receive instant feedback and rewards that activate the brain’s pleasure centre, leading to a release of dopamine. The pleasure experienced while playing these games results in a long-lasting enjoyment of the subject matter and for solving complex problems related to it.
In addition, the influence that gamification has on the pleasure centre gives rise to reward-related brain signals that are believed to be linked to the long-term storage of new information by stimulating the regions of the brain that are reserved for memory and learning functions. The human brain processes new data and files into working memory by using the auditory and visual channels. As a result of the digital age, attention span has decreased from 12 seconds to 8 but we have also gained skills such as quicker reaction times and the ability to multitask more effectively.
These changes indicate that education has to adjust and provide smaller chunks of information, for processing through various channels, to achieve maximum retention of new information and data. Gamification has been integrated to cater to these specific needs and has become a vital part of the learning processes at schools and workplaces in Canada.
Gamification Encourages Fun
One of the most important aspects of gamification is the fun that it should encourage for those who engage in it. While gamification has definite advantages in the education industry, there are several other industries that have incorporated this principle into their processes. Modern software and technology have made it possible for people all over the world to transcend traditional gamification.
The introduction of Augmented Reality, virtual reality and even three-dimensional software has had a profound effect on gamification and has adjusted its limitations. These days, gamers can enjoy all the traditional benefits of gamification, such as earning points, winning games, and learning skills, through a brief gaming session that encompasses all of the above.
This can be done by making use of the advanced technology and software that is readily available on the Canadian market today and that provide visual and auditory stimulation that is not only realistic but also provides users with an experience that is fun. The sense of accomplishment and reward, coupled with the mastery of a new skill contributes to the fun of gamification and has led to many Canadians associating these feelings with their idea of fun.
Gamification in Online Gaming
Winning is an achievement and the feeling associated with victory is one of the key principles of gamification. As such, it does not come as a surprise that many providers of mobile apps and casino games Canada have introduced more opportunities to win and feel a sense of accomplishment after we have worked hard. Many operators who provide casino games online have designed loyalty rewards schemes and other means of earning points to keep Canadian players returning to their offering and experiencing the joy time and time again.
When video games were first released in the 1990s, the world was exposed to the high of competing against friends and loved ones while playing as their favourite characters. These days, the immersion you are likely to experience in video games has far exceeded the games that were released years ago and allow you to feel, see and experience more from every gaming session.
Gamification Caters to Needs
Regardless of whether you are a future casino player in Canada or an avid lover of video games, the industry has incorporated gamification to ensure that our human needs for control and success, self-efficacy and independence and social interaction are met.