Press A+ To Play: The Emerging Field of Gamification in Higher Education

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorWhitlark, Jason A.
dc.contributor.authorElequin, Nathan
dc.contributor.departmentBaylor Business Fellows.en_US
dc.contributor.schoolsHonors College.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2016-08-09T17:57:55Z
dc.date.available2016-08-09T17:57:55Z
dc.date.copyright2016-05-10
dc.date.issued2016-08-09
dc.description.abstractHigher education faces a critical issue with producing and encouraging engagement in and out of the classroom, as students are finding more reasons to dismiss their coursework as a "means to an end" in the game of the degree-grab. Meanwhile, research from the unorthodox and previously-untapped field of game design offers to provide a unique solution to these educational concerns. In short, the newly-emerging field of gamification asks a simple question - how can we make the learning experience more meaningful and fun for the average student? In this expansion on the works of TEDx spokesperson Yu-Kai Chou and New York Times bestseller Jane McGonigal, I argue that game designers possess an invaluable expertise in holding the attention of and creating meaningful experiences for emerging adults. I then dissect the higher educational discipline from the perspective of a game engineer, to discuss and diagnose the critical failings of the institution in exciting and engaging its students. Finally, using Chou's pioneering Octalysis Framework, I will detail eight strategies for improving learning through a game design approach, concluding with a listed arsenal of engagement tools that be directly-applied to the programming and pedagogy of the classroom. By the end of this thesis, parents, student, educators, and administrators alike will have acquired actionable tools to increasing the enjoyment and engagement of their educational experiences.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2104/9697
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.rightsBaylor University projects are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. Contact libraryquestions@baylor.edu for inquiries about permission.en_US
dc.rights.accessrightsWorldwide accessen_US
dc.subjectEducational Psychologyen_US
dc.subjectGame Designen_US
dc.subjectGamificationen_US
dc.subjectBehavioral Economicsen_US
dc.titlePress A+ To Play: The Emerging Field of Gamification in Higher Educationen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US

Files

Original bundle

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Press A+ To Play - ADOBE UPLOAD VERSION.pdf
Size:
744.89 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Main Article
Download
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
KIC Document.pdf
Size:
100.35 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Signed Authorization
Download

License bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.87 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download

Collections

Theses - Honors College