Gamified Microlearning: Design Roadmap and Examples

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

The microlearning strategy delivers tiny knowledge bits through short text, interactive videos, and exercises. In today’s age, gamified microlearning is gaining traction.

According to experts, gamified microlearning has the potential to improve retention. It also makes learning fun, social, and addictive. 

Microlearning method takes advantage of the forgetting curve, a concept that suggests people forget newly acquired information quickly if they don’t retrieve and repeat it. 

Gamification features like quizzes and mini-games are added to these nuggets to keep learners engaged, provide instant feedback, and create a healthy level of friendly competition among learners.

Unlike traditional learning strategies, gamified microlearning focuses more on game mechanics and game experience. 

Today, we will discuss you can use gamified microlearning for your organization’s learning goals.

What Is Gamified Microlearning?

Gamified microlearning is a teaching approach where you can break down complex concepts into small pieces of information and present them engagingly.

Moreover, the elements of challenge, success, and reward in gamified learning help learners connect with the learning experience and build motivation to achieve desired results.

Gamified microlearning is a growing trend in the eLearning industry that uses game-based learning techniques to teach new information in a meaningful way. 

Furthermore, the approach to learning breaks down larger modules into smaller “nuggets” of information accessible via mobile devices or corporate learning management systems (LMS). 

Popular choice for corporate trainings.

It is a popular choice for workplace learning, especially for millennials who prefer engaging and interactive environments while providing better results.

With gamified microlearning, users experience game-like learning scenarios rather than long-form content lessons. Thus, it enhances retention by creating a sense of progress and achievement in learning. 

Gamified microlearning also takes advantage of modern technology, with mobile learning and social media playing a massive role. Audio, virtual reality, and simulations enhance the learning experience. 

Furthermore, a dashboard tracks the progress and performance of learners, giving them a sense of accomplishment and motivation to continue learning.

Additionally, gamified microlearning approach eases navigation through learner-friendly interfaces that provide clear instructions on how to complete tasks. 

It helps learners understand, assimilate, and apply knowledge in their lives.

Key components of a successful gamification strategy

While we may get carried away with extensive game mechanics during the strategy phase, remember to meet learner objectives at every step. It is critical.

The Design Roadmap for Gamified Microlearning

Download Infographic – Get your copy

Phase 1: Idea to Content Development

Step	Description	Questions to Consider	Tool Suggestion	Design Elements
1	Identify Learning Objectives	What are the specific learning objectives for this gamified microlearning experience? What are the desired learning outcomes?	Mindomo, Trello	N/A
2	Analyze the Target Audience	Who is the target audience for this gamified microlearning experience? What are their preferences and learning styles?	Surveys, Interviews, Focus Groups	N/A
3	Choose a Game Design Framework	Which game design framework would work best for the learning objectives and target audience? How can game mechanics be used to reinforce learning?	Gamification Platforms (e.g. Bunchball, Badgeville)	Points, Badges, Levels, Leaderboards
4	Develop Learning Content	What content is necessary to achieve the learning objectives? How can the content be broken down into smaller, manageable pieces?	eLearning Authoring Tools (e.g. Articulate, Captivate)	Text, Images, Videos

Phase 2 – Design and Monitor

Step	Description	Questions to Consider	Tool Suggestion	Design Elements
5	Design the User Interface	What elements should be included in the user interface to make it engaging and intuitive? How can visual design elements be used to support learning objectives?	Graphic Design Tools (e.g. Canva, Adobe Creative Cloud)	Colors, Graphics, Animations
6	Implement Game Mechanics	What game mechanics will be most effective in reinforcing learning? How can game mechanics be balanced to ensure fair competition?	Gamification Platforms (e.g. Bunchball, Badgeville)	Rewards, Challenges, Competition
7	Test and Evaluate	How can feedback from learners be collected and used to improve the experience? What metrics should be used to evaluate the success of the experience?	User Testing Tools (e.g. UserTesting.com)	Feedback Forms, Surveys
8	Launch and Promote	How can the gamified microlearning experience be promoted to the target audience? What incentives can be offered to encourage participation?	Social Media, Email Marketing	Promotional Graphics, Videos
9	Monitor and Update	What metrics should be tracked to monitor user engagement and performance? How can user data be used to improve the experience?	Analytics Tools (e.g. Google Analytics)	User Engagement, Performance Metrics
10	Evaluate and Improve	What changes or updates can you make to improve learner engagement and achieve the learning objectives?	Feedback Forms, User Testing	Iterative Design Process

Examples of Successful Gamified Microlearning Programs

Program Name	Industry	Gamification Elements	Learning Objectives	Engagement Rate	Tracked Metrics
Duolingo	Language learning	Points, levels, streaks	Improve language proficiency	37 Million users return to the app daily	Time spent on the app, progress in lessons, completion rates
IBM’s Code Rally	Software development	Racing game metaphor, badges, leaderboards	Teach coding skills	90% of participants completed the program	Completion rates, accuracy of coding, time to completion
Microsoft’s Xbox Achievement System	Gaming	Badges, achievements	Reward players for completing tasks and milestones	Over 4 million achievement unlocks daily	Number of unlocks, time spent gaming, game progress
McDonald’s Till Training Game	Fast food industry	Simulation, rewards, feedback	Teach point-of-sale system	Improved employee performance by 20%	Accuracy of orders, time to complete orders, customer satisfaction ratings
MindTickle	Sales enablement	Leaderboards, rewards, quizzes	Motivate sales teams to learn and improve skills	80% of participants complete training within 7 days	Completion rates, sales performance metrics, time spent training
SAP’s Roadwarrior	Sales	Road trip metaphor, challenges, rewards	Teach product knowledge and sales skills	94% of participants reported increased product knowledge	Completion rates, sales performance metrics, satisfaction ratings

Challenges and Limitations of Gamified Microlearning

Here are some challenges and limitations of gamified microlearning:

Overemphasis on gaming:

Sometimes, gamification can take the focus away from the actual learning content, leading to a lack of retention of important information.

Poorly designed game elements:

So, poorly designed game elements can lead to disengagement and reduced motivation among learners.

Limited applicability:

Gamification may not be suitable for all types of learning content or audiences.

Lack of customization:

In fact, standard gamification strategies will not be effective for all learners. Customization is necessary.

Limited feedback: 

Gamification may not provide adequate feedback to learners, making it difficult for them to gauge their progress and areas for improvement.

High development costs: 

Developing good gamified microlearning experiences can be time-consuming and expensive, requiring specialized skills and resources.

Resistance to change: 

Some learners may resist gamified microlearning due to a lack of familiarity or discomfort with new technology.

Risk of becoming too competitive:

Also, gamification can create a competitive atmosphere that may negatively affect collaboration and teamwork among learners.

Related articles

• 5 Leadership Strategies to Promote Employee Safety
•  12 Principles of Ethical Business Conduct
•  Don’t Ignore the Dangers of Underperforming Employees
•  4 Powerful Ways To Deal With Coworkers Who Dislike You
•  The Psychological Toll of Corporate Layoffs on Employees
•  The Impact of Layoffs on Corporate Employees
•  Calculate Retention and Experience: Ultimate Guide
•  How to Identify and Deal with a Disruptive Employee
•  Culture of Innovation: Learn How to Ignite Progress and Propel Your Organization Forward
•  5 Easy Ways to Demonstrate Accountability at Work
•  10 Tips to Retain Top Talent
•  When to Decline a Meeting | Usable Templates

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Game elements used in microlearning?

Here are some game elements commonly used in microlearning:

• Points
• Badges
• Levels
• Leaderboards
• Challenges
• Rewards
• Quests
• Avatars
• Power-ups
• Feedback systems

These gamification elements make the learning process an emotional experience. When learners feel good about their learning journey and receive certificates, badges, or other forms of recognition, they will remember what they learned. 

Moreover, adaptive microlearning allows learners to learn at their own pace. It has content made to their unique needs and learning preferences.

How to employ meaningful game mechanics?

In fact, there are several ways to employ meaningful game mechanics in your learning experience to help learners focus and pay more attention to the content.

One gamification approach is to use task-based formats. It simply means grouping learning activities into logical tasks that learners can complete in a set amount of time. 

Furthermore, upon task completion, it enables learners to earn rewards or virtual points to access more tasks.

Another way to employ meaningful game mechanics is through a microlearning roadmap. It helps employees enhance their thinking skills, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities. 

Also, meaningful game mechanics, includes gaining prizes and virtual points for completing activities or mimicking real-world scenarios.

Conclusion

Using game elements in microlearning can help to engage and motivate learners. By design, gamification provides a fun experience that helps people focus on learning content. 

However, gamified microlearning is not without its challenges and limitations. Developers must use caution when considering gamification, as some learners may find the experience too competitive or distracting. 

Moreover, distraction on mobile devices can reduce engagement, and not all learners respond to the same gamification features. 

Furthermore, our human brain can become overwhelmed with too much information, leading to cognitive overload. Despite these challenges, gamified microlearning is a promising approach to workplace learning that can provide a more effective and engaging learning experience.

So, onboard to new learning methods of microlearning format.

---

Hoomale is a hub of thought-provoking articles on various subjects, from company operations to the mindset and behavior of young people to future work and tech. Stay informed and educated with our captivating reads.

Get notified of our next post via email by signing up with the form below. Consider subscribing to our Youtube channel.

Disclaimer: Our post may contain affiliate links. By clicking and purchasing, the commission could come our way at no extra cost. Rest assured – we only endorse products and services with a personal stamp of approval and top-notch quality. Appreciation for your support runs deep.