ABSTRACT
Gamification has been included under the recent key trends that can be effective towards production of lifelong learners. Gamification can be briefed as the application of mechanics and dynamics of gaming in a non-game context; here it is education. As an approach towards learning, it has subtly differentiated itself from mere game-based learning or activity-based learning. Observations from educationists have claimed that the youth of today are easily drawn towards games because of the ‘freedom of play’, and this has led the educationists to come up with the novel idea of gamifying the learning environment, to engage learners and make them inculcate the habit of lifelong learning. Therefore, this chapter will discuss in detail the meaning, nature, and characteristics of gamification along with its potentials, which takes on a progressive and participatory teaching and learning approach. The module of gamification that can engage each and every learner in every class, facilitate formative assessment of the learners, and improve the learning outcome will lead towards a conducive, collaborative, as well as a healthy, competitive learning environment. Every pedagogical approach has its pros and cons, but this chapter highlights only the benefits of ‘gamification’ that can provide learners the autonomy to learn as well as provide teachers the autonomy to guide and channelise.
