Gamification in Articulate Storyline

Articulate Storyline allows you to add the following gamification elements in your eLearning course:

• Scores
• Rewards
• Levels
• Leaderboards

Triggers, characters, interactivities, variables, states, and templates are used to add these elements into an eLearning course.

Gamification elements in Articulate Storyline

1. Choose Avatars

Storyline 360 has a vast collection of avatars in the Assets Library. These avatars help in personalizing the learning experience for learners. Learners are allowed to choose an avatar that best represents them. Learners are given an option to enter and display their names. In Articulate Storyline 360, entering the learners’ names can be quickly done. It is done with a simple text entry variable.

2. A Game Theme

Ensure that the game theme is relevant to the eLearning course content. Once you select a game theme for your course, you can view it in the theme’s gallery.

3. Create Levels and Leaderboards

The course can be divided into levels instead of the chapter division. Articulate Storyline allows you to incorporate ‘levels’ and ‘unlock levels’ in online courses. When learners answer all the questions correctly or get a specific score, they can unlock the next level.

4. Encourage Competition with Leaderboards

The leaderboards can create competition by displaying learners’ names with the ranks of the learners. It is possible to create a leaderboard in Articulate Storyline, in which the result updates automatically using Google Docs. In Storyline, you can also insert badges in your online courses.

Gamification is applying gaming techniques to non-game elements to make it more engaging. It encourages learners to explore and learn as they move towards an end goal. It has specific learning outcomes.

Gamification techniques

E-learning gamification applies game elements to online learning content to make it engaging. The following are some of the gamification techniques that can be developed in an eLearning course:

1. Narrative

The narrative is a crucial part of many games. The narrative often has a relatable character, a plot, and an antagonist.

2. Rules

A game sets specific expectations and parameters. These are presented as rules. Rules let players understand what they have to do. Clear and concise instructions must be provided when including gamification elements.

3. Player Control

The learner must feel that they have control over their potential success. A practical way is to allow them to choose an avatar. Another way is to avoid forcing learners to select content in a linear path only from the main menu.

4. Discovery

People love to explore. Incorporate techniques to help learners search for information that would score extra points.

5. Interactivity

Games are all about stimulation and engagement. Craft meaningful interactions that require learners to think and make decisions.

6. Feedback

Feedback is an essential part of gaming. Feedback need not be a text always. “Unlocking” new features is a type of feedback that can make the learner understand that they are doing well.

How to Build a Simple E-Learning Game

The following steps will help you design games in eLearning courses using Articulate Storyline.

1. Choose Your Gamified Theme

• Choose a theme.
• Please make sure that the theme aligns the game with the rest of your course content.
• Also, remember that your background graphic is one of the essential elements for setting the context for your game.

2. Identity Your Game Design Elements

• Identify the types of design elements you will need to design the theme.
• These include background graphics, buttons, feedback boxes, and colors.
• You can group them on a separate slide to use as a reference.

3. Set Up Your Storyline Project

• Start a new project in Storyline.
• Use the default slide size. Customize your slide and feedback masters for each of our slide designs.
• Here, we will discuss using one slide for your game. The feedback screens are placed on slide layers.

4. Build the Game Elements

• Build the project’s design elements in the beginning.
• Thus, the game elements can be accessible to copy and paste.

5. Build the First Quiz Question

• Create the slide with the first question.

6. Build the Feedback Slides

• Add the feedback slides.
• Create two different slides to inform learners visually if they answered correctly or incorrectly.

7. Adjust the Feedback for the Game

• Please return to your gameboard button and adjust the feedback based on whether the learner answered the question correctly or incorrectly.
• Then, create slides for the remaining questions and feedback slides.

8. Create the Introduction and Results Slides

• Create an introduction and results slides.

Examples of gamification in eLearning

Here are some examples of gamification in eLearning. They incorporate the gaming elements in different ways.

1. A timed quiz

Imagine you need to create a quiz to collect data from your learners. You will need to create a timed quiz that keeps the users engaged. The data would be precious for you. And it would be presented as a game for the learners.

2. Quiz with badges

A quiz becomes a game when visual rewards and badges are introduced with point scoring. When a timer is introduced, there is an element of competition.

3. Scenario and Game elements

Gaming mechanics can be applied to a scenario-based approach. This approach can result in a realistic learning environment that resonates with people.

The Benefits of Gamification

Gamification is beneficial in eLearning. How would it benefit a business organization and its employees? The following are some of the benefits:

1. Gamification encourages people to take an active role in their learning.
2. Gamification has a competitive element that promotes continuous learning.
3. It helps employees to stay engaged for longer. Thus, gamification improves productivity.
4. It provides a more enjoyable learning experience.
5. L&D teams can do assessments using gamification to track performance.

Now you know about gamification! Please make sure the eLearning courses at your organization have gamification elements to make them more engaging.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do you make a game on an articulate storyline?

The following steps must be taken to make a game on an articulate storyline:

1. Choosing the gamified theme
2. Identifying the game design elements
3. Setting up the storyline project
4. Building the game elements
5. Building the feedback slides for the first quiz question
6. Adjusting the visual feedback for the game button
7. Creating the remaining questions and feedback slides
8. Creating the introduction and results slides

How is gamification used in eLearning?

Gamification is applying gaming formats to boost participation and engagement in eLearning activities. It makes eLearning enjoyable and accessible and results in higher participation. They are commonly structured for learners to solve a problem, an essential skill needed for today and tomorrow.

What is gamification software?

Gamification software is a platform for applying game mechanics to non-game contexts to boost engagement and successful results.

What are the elements of gamification?

Gamification elements include points, timers, badges, and leader boards. Games are competitive activities played according to a set of rules. They usually have an end goal.