10 2.4 Recommendations for the Future
The following are two recommendations when considering incorporating gamification into a workplace training program.
Incorporate collaborative and social elements into gamified workplace training.
One way to sustain long-term engagement in gamified training is by incorporating collaborative and social interaction elements into the training session, such as team-based challenges and peer feedback. For example, team-based challenges could include small groups working together to solve a real-world problem related to the training session, or they could compete in a trivia-type game for some friendly competition. Peer feedback might have employees review each other’s work or progress throughout the training session by providing constructive feedback. These social elements help build a sense of community and belonging, which is important for maintaining motivation by satisfying employees’ psychological needs for relatedness as identified in SDT (Luarn et al., 2023). Creating a safe, open, and collaborative environment among colleagues builds a strong foundation for sustained motivation and teamwork. When these needs are met through social rewards and collaboration, it increases individual motivation and creates a shared sense of purpose (Dikcius et al., 2021).
Further supporting this recommendation, Capatina et al. (2024) found that collaboration in gamified settings significantly improves knowledge sharing because employees are more likely to exchange ideas and skills when working toward a common goal. This shared responsibility not only promotes individual learning but also increases the overall effectiveness of training by allowing employees to benefit from diverse perspectives and expertise.
It is important for educators and workplace trainers to incorporate collaborative elements into their training programs to create an interactive and dynamic learning experience to encourage active participation and sustained engagement across the workforce (Torresan & Hinterhuber, 2023).
Personalize learning paths by applying UDL principles.
It is important to recognize that employees will be motivated by different gamification elements and it is essential to offer personalized learning paths that address these individual needs and learning styles. According to Bitrián et al. (2023), gamified systems that allow for personalization, such as allowing learners to choose specific challenges or goals, result in higher engagement and better learning outcomes. Personalized learning helps employees feel more in control of their personal development, which leads to increased motivation and job performance.
Incorporating UDL principles into personalization gamified training ensures that training sessions are accessible to employees with diverse needs. UDL emphasizes the need to provide multiple means of representation, engagement, and action to accommodate different learners (Rawashdeh et al., 2021). For example, providing content in various formats, such as videos, articles, interactive eLearning modules, and hands-on activities addresses different learning styles. It is crucial that the content is accessible by including features, including captions, transcripts, and alt-text. Additionally, allowing flexible options for demonstrating knowledge through tasks or activities that can be completed in a preferred way also supports diverse learning preferences. This leads to improved accessibility and also higher employee satisfaction and retention rates (Alsawaier, 2018), ultimately increasing profitability and productivity. Smith (2019) states that incorporating UDL into gamified learning environments benefits employees with disabilities, but it also benefits all learners by providing flexible options for different learning preferences.
Allowing employees to choose their own learning paths and making sure the content is accessible and inclusive, creates an equitable learning environment. However, it is also worth noting that it’s important to offer guidance to ensure employees are gaining the necessary knowledge to succeed. This will not only increase knowledge and engagement in training but will also promote diversity and inclusivity in the workplace.