An Exploratory Study of Student Engagement in Gamified Online Discussions

• In Event: Learner Behaviors and Attitudes in Online Learning Environments

Abstract

This is an exploratory study that examines the influence of the gamification approach on student engagement in online discussions. A gamified online discussion tool, gEchoLu, was implemented in an undergraduate level online course, which held 22 online discussions. The data was collected through individual interviews with 12 students and a self-reported survey. The results revealed that the gamification approach positively affected student engagement. Additionally, factors such as technical issues, classmates’ behaviors that either promoted or impeded students from engaging in the gamified online discussions were also identified.

Author

• Lu Ding, Arizona State University