Gamify your module: motivate students with Level Up
Teacher Introduction
Dr. Ji Qiong
Dr.?Qiong Ji (CFA, FRM) is an Assistant Professor in the?School of Intelligent Finance and Business?at Xi’an?Jiaotong-Liverpool University. She holds a?Ph.D?in Finance and business from University of Liverpool, UK, and has since been involved in over ten research projects, including those sponsored by the Jiangsu Provincial Social Science Fund, as well as projects commissioned by the Qianhai Administration and the Shenzhen Financial Bureau.?Dr.?Ji possesses a wealth of experience in the industry. She has held positions?at Qianhai Financial Holdings and Wilshire Associates. Her primary research interests are in asset pricing and?behavioral?finance.?Dr.?Ji has contributed to the field through her research papers, which have been published in top-tier international journals, including the Journal of Banking and Finance.?
Key Points
The use of the Level Up XP provides opportunities for:
- Motivating students via points and leaderboards within Moodle, significantly improving interaction with course content both pre and post-lectures
- Implementing a structured system of rewards and progression markers that not only visualize students’ achievements but also enhance their motivation through tangible milestones.
- Elevating students’ academic performance by fostering regular and immersive interaction with educational materials.
- Ensuring straightforward integration with popular learning management systems such as Moodle, Canvas, and Blackboard, facilitating widespread adoption and enhanced scalability.
Technology toolkit:?Level Up XP
Case Details
My innovation revolves around integrating the Level Up XP gamification system with AI-enhanced H5P content in Moodle to boost student engagement and motivation. The inspiration for this approach came from observing that many students typically did not engage with the materials and videos uploaded on the Learning Management System (LMS) prior to class. Additionally, their review of content was often?sporadically?done, usually just a few days before exams.?
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This lack of consistent engagement prompted me to explore methods that could enhance involvement with learning resources on a regular and more interactive basis. By implementing gamification through Level Up XP, I aimed to make the learning process more appealing and rewarding for students. The system rewards them for interacting with course content, whether it’s watching videos, completing pre-class activities, or reviewing modules. These activities are tracked and rewarded with points that contribute to their overall course progress visible on?leaderboards.?
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Overall, this innovation was driven by the need to find better ways to motivate students and enhance their engagement with course materials throughout the semester, rather than just in preparation for exams. This proactive approach helps students achieve a deeper understanding and retention of course material, fostering a more enriching educational experience.?
The introduction of the Level Up XP gamification system was met with enthusiastic approval from students, who exhibited significantly higher engagement and participation levels. They were particularly motivated by the gamification elements such as points and leaderboards, which incentivized regular interaction with course materials, making learning both fun and competitive. This active involvement was further enriched by personalized, interactive content that helped deepen their?understanding of complex subjects, leading to noticeable improvements in academic performance. The positive feedback and improved grades have led to calls from students to expand these innovative elements to other courses, highlighting the success and potential of this approach to reshape educational engagement.?
The introduction of the Level Up XP gamification system was met with enthusiastic approval from students, who exhibited significantly higher engagement and participation levels. They were particularly motivated by the gamification elements such as points and leaderboards, which incentivized regular interaction with course materials, making learning both fun and competitive. This active involvement was further enriched by personalized, interactive content that helped deepen their understanding of complex subjects, leading to noticeable improvements in academic performance. The positive feedback and improved grades have led to calls from students to expand these innovative elements to other courses, highlighting the success and potential of this approach to reshape educational engagement.
Gamification significantly boosts student engagement, making learning interactive and fun, which maintains high enthusiasm levels traditionally challenging to achieve with conventional methods. This initiative also demonstrated the enabling role of technology in education, improving efficiency and accessibility of learning resources through seamless integration with existing LMS platforms like Moodle. Moreover, the data collected from this integration facilitates informed decision-making regarding curriculum adjustments, while the scalability and adaptability of these tools suggest potential for broader application across various educational contexts, revolutionizing learning environments for heightened efficacy and engagement.
- Implementing gamification is not a set-and-forget solution. Keeping students consistently engaged requires ongoing effort and adaptation throughout the semester. It’s crucial to monitor how students interact with the gamified elements like points and leaderboards and make adjustments based on their responses and feedback.
- The design of the gamification system should be iterative, allowing for refinements based on student performance and engagement data. If students are losing interest, particularly those who find themselves lower on the leaderboards, introduce new challenges or ways of earning points that can provide additional paths to gain recognition.
Overview
Dr.?Qiong?Ji,?from the School of Intelligent Finance and Business, integrated Level Up XP into her course?modules to?enhance?student?engagement, which led to notable improvements in academic performance.??
About?Level Up XP:?Level Up XP infuses the educational journey with elements of gamification. Students earn points for their participation in course-related activities, allowing them to track their progress, engage in friendly competition via leaderboards, and gain access to content that caters to their unique learning pathways. This gamification framework not only helps retain learners and elevate course completion rates but also delivers an invigorated and dynamic educational experience. Seamlessly compatible with widely-used learning management systems such as Moodle, Canvas, and Blackboard, Level Up XP is particularly effective for encouraging students to prepare for classes and revisit course material, reinforcing learning and understanding.?