Gamification and Design Thinking in Higher Education: Case Studies for Instructional Innovation in the Economics Classroom

The potential of gamification and design thinking in Higher Education is explored, with a focus on enhancing the student experience, motivating participants, and improving skills like creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Recommendations and insights are provided for the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation of gamified design thinking activities in Higher Education.

Format: Hardback
Length: 104 pages
Publication date: 06 December 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The potential of combining gamification and design thinking in higher education is explored in this comprehensive analysis. It examines the introduction of a gamified design in a design thinking activity and the ways in which this can enhance the student experience, motivate participants, and improve skills such as creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration. The study provides valuable recommendations and insights into the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation of gamified design thinking activities in higher education. It also examines relevant ethical issues that arise in the context of gamification.

Combining gamification and design thinking in higher education offers a promising approach to enhancing the student experience, motivating participants, and improving skills. Gamification involves incorporating game-like elements into educational activities to make them more engaging, interactive, and enjoyable. Design thinking, on the other hand, is a problem-solving approach that encourages creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration.

When gamification and design thinking are combined, they can create an immersive and interactive learning environment that encourages students to actively participate in their learning. For example, a gamified design thinking activity could involve students working in teams to solve a real-world problem. The activity could be structured as a game, with points, rewards, and challenges that encourage students to work collaboratively and creatively.

One of the key benefits of gamified design thinking activities is that they can enhance student engagement and motivation. Games are designed to be engaging and addictive, which can help students stay focused and motivated throughout the learning process. By incorporating game-like elements into design thinking activities, students can become more invested in their work and more likely to retain information.

In addition, gamified design thinking activities can improve skills such as creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Games often require students to think outside the box and solve problems in innovative ways. By incorporating design thinking principles into games, students can develop these skills in a fun and engaging way.

However, it is important to note that the use of gamification in higher education should be approached with caution. While games can be effective tools for learning, they can also be distracting and time-consuming. Therefore, it is important to ensure that gamified design thinking activities are well-designed and aligned with the learning objectives of the course.

In conclusion, combining gamification and design thinking in higher education offers a promising approach to enhancing the student experience, motivating participants, and improving skills. By incorporating game-like elements into design thinking activities, students can become more engaged, motivated, and skilled in problem-solving. However, it is important to approach gamification with caution and ensure that it is well-designed and aligned with the learning objectives of the course.

Weight: 264g
Dimension: 142 x 224 x 14 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032660721