Badges @ E-Learning Gamification

Continuing from yesterday’s post on “Points”, when it comes to gamification, Badges are quite popular along with Points and Leaderboards.

While badges have been around for a really long time in various walks of life and some of them are quite hard to earn, they can bring an edge to gamification of your e-learning programs- if implemented well.

Here are a few simple tips to use badges to enhance the effectiveness of your corporate e-learning interventions.

1. Make it a journey, not just a destination

a.     Learning is a continuous process and no-matter what course your learners take up, the objective is that they need to keep learning over a period of time to get the best results. 

b.     Taking a cue from the martial arts belts, every color clearly means that there is something you have achieved and there is the next color you are gunning for! Both  “pride of possession” and the “desire to achieve the next one” keep the learner in good practice and spirit.  The same concept can wonderfully be applied to corporate e-learning too!

1. Earned it? - Flaunt it!

a.     When a learner earns a badge, give him/her enough reason and opportunity to flaunt it. While there are many APIs which enable a badge to be reflected on various social media platforms- what matters is how many people actually know about it and appreciate its worth?

b.     Promote the badge over various internal platforms like the corporate intranet, common area etc. and create a buzz among the learners to “want” it.

Rewards and Privileges- in addition to recognition

         a. While a badge by itself is a symbol of recognition, adding certain exclusive real-life                             rewards/privileges to it, give the learner a consistent reason to connect with it and feel proud                to associate with it.
          b.     Also for the ones who don't have the badge, it serves as a motivator to work towards being                    a part of the privileged lot.  However this element needs to be implemented with caution to                 avoid going over-board and creating an unnecessary divide.

Increase Visibility

If you have created a “coveted” badge that many learners wish to achieve, I strongly recommend that you give every possible chance for the learner to flaunt it. For example, you can provide a complete kit with objects depicting the badge like..

a.     Digital badge

b.     Icon for the email signature

c.      Tabletop object

d.     Coat pin etc.

Badges are a wonderful and creative way of defining an achievement. If you are already using badges- it’s time to take quick look at how best you can use them. If you are not- then it’s high time you launch your first badge!

The world of PBL is not complete without discussing about Leaderboards after Points and Badges.

Checkout the next post in this series on PBL to explore ways to use Leaderboards for corporate e-learning.

Till then happy badging!