1. My Sabbatical at
Hogwarts: Initial
Explorations into
Meaningful
Gamification
Scott Nicholson, Syracuse University
School of Information Studies
Visiting Professor, MIT, Comparative
Media Studies

2. Overview
•Gaming
BMIT in
Libraries
DMIT •Choosing
a Path
AMIT • New
Directions

3. A Request

4. Before MIT

5. Lifelong Gamer

6. Game Design

7. Syracuse in 2001

8. Online education

9. Gaming in Libraries

10. Online Video

11. During MIT
Visiting Professor, Comparative Media Studies
Visiting Scholar, Singapore-MIT GAMBIT Game Lab
Resident Scholar, Simmons Hall

12. Comparative Media
Studies

13. GAMBIT Game Lab

14. Education Arcade

15. Simmons Hall

16. Libraries at MIT
Independent Activities Period
ARG Design Workshop
Excellent information infrastructure…

17. Two Paths
•Game Studies
GAMBIT •Rec. Game Creation (based
in research)
Ed •Learning Game Creation
•Teachers, Classrooms
Arcade

18. Enter Gamification
Definition : The use of game
design elements in non-game
contexts.
Deterding, S. (2011b). Situated motivational affordances of game
elements: A conceptual model. Presented at Gamification: Using Game
Design Elements in Non-Gaming Contexts, a workshop at CHI 2011.
Retrieved from http://gamification-research.org/wp-
content/uploads/2011/04/09-Deterding.pdf

19. Examples
ofGamification
Frequent Flier Programs
Library Summer Reading program
Grades!
Branded Gamification
Gamification vs. Pointsification (Robertson, 2010)
Robertson, M. (2010). Can't play, won't play. Hide & Seek: Inventing New
Kinds of Play. Retrieved from http://www.hideandseek.net/2010/10/06/cant-
play-wont-play/
Turning to theory

20. Motivation
Self-Determination Theory (Deci& Ryan) – What drives a
person to make a decision without external influence
Organismic Integration Theory - How a user integrates
external control into a sense of self
If there is external control through rewards, then learner
will incorporate this external control
This will create negative feelings about the activity
Gamification based upon controlling external rewards =
Short term benefit with long-term cause
Gamification without external rewards

21. What is Meaningful?
Situational Relevance (Schamber)
User + Context
Challenge of using only one goal
Situated Motivational Affordance (Deterding)
Organizational context into which activity is placed
Meaningful Gamification has to account for different users
and different organizational contexts for non-game activity

22. Addressing Diverse Needs
Universal Design for Learning (Rose &
Meyer)
What – Content of Learning
How – Methods of demonstrating
mastery
Why – Paths to internalize content

23. Engaging the Users
Player-generated Content
“Gaming 2.0”
Players set own goals and achievements
Developing platform for customization
Challenge: Meaningful Customization

24. User at the Center
Company-Centered Design
“Teaching to the Test”
Game-Centered Design
User-Centered Design
Meaningful Gamification: Integration of user-
centered game design elements into non-game
contexts
Avoid External Rewards

25. Meaningful Gamification

26. Meaningful Gamification

27. Meaningful Gamification

28. Meaningful Gamification

29. After MIT
Book on Meaningful Gamification
New course areas
Library Applications
Alternate Reality Games
Information Literacy and Searching Tools
Crossed Paths - http://tinyurl.com/crossedpaths
Time for you to think about Gamification!