74 12.4 Key Challenges, Opportunities, and Trends
Balancing Engagement and Educational Goals in Gamified Learning for Social-Emotional Development
Striking the right balance between engaging game elements and educational goals can take time and effort. If game elements distract from learning objectives or over-emphasize external rewards like points or badges, students may lose focus or rely too heavily on extrinsic motivation (Cheong et al., 2017; Marques et al., 2023). Educators should adjust the game mechanics to provide meaningful learning by using gamification to personalize the learning experiences with self-paced progress and tailored feedback. Incorporating collaborative activities, such as group challenges, can help students develop academic knowledge and social-emotional skills (Sailer & Homner, 2019). These approaches are particularly valuable for students struggling in traditional classroom settings (Dibello, 2012). Emerging technologies, such as virtual and augmented reality, enhance gamification’s potential to create immersive and real-world learning experiences (Chung & Pan, 2023). These tools can engage students in active activities that connect classroom learning to practical applications.