NMC On the Horizon :: Games and Gamification

What are some great applications of game-play/gamification in education? What are the elements that make learning engaging? How do you deal with the criticism that learning through games is distracting? Where is gamification headed?

Join the NMC and our panel of games and gamification thought leaders on Wednesday, March 5 at 10am PT / 12pm CT/ 1pm ET (check for local time). This one-hour session will be held in the Google+ On Air platform and broadcasted live on YouTube. Participation is free for all attendees.

While a growing number of educational institutions and programs are experimenting with game-play, there has also been increased attention surrounding gamification — the integration of gaming elements, mechanics, and frameworks into non-game situations and scenarios. Businesses have embraced gamification as a way to design incentive programs that engage employees through rewards, leader boards, and badges, often with a mobile component. Although more nascent than in military or industry settings, the gamification of education is gaining support among educators who recognize that effectively designed games can stimulate large gains in productivity and creativity among learners.