Operationalising gamification in an educational authentic environment

Abstract

This paper addresses the largely 'inauthentic' pedagogical approaches in current classroom and distance-learning environments, and will propose a methodology that utilises existing technologies to provide an immersive and authentic experience in education; that is to bridge the gap between the academic perspective and the real-world requirements. Industry postulate that recent graduates lack requisite skills, are often ignorant of the workings of company cultures, and are uncertain how to transfer their university-acquired theoretical knowledge to effective practice. We propose an environment that increases authenticity through inclusion of real-life complexity modelled in an immersive scenario, links scenarios into a comprehensive supply chain that supports exchange of information and repercussions/effects from actions between modules, and includes gaming mechanisms to increase student engagement further. In particular, the gaming mechanisms encourage student engagement (and better manage their interaction/learning process with in a stepwise fashion, rather than 'throwing them in the deep end'), reflection, and learning from the flow-on effects of an interlinked immersive, authentic, virtual, awesome, environment.