The Use of Badges in Education: A Systematic Review

• In Event: Advances in Gamification and Game-Based Learning

Abstract

A few researchers have implemented solely badges in education to examine their specific impact on students’ learning. This systematic review aimed to synthesize and evaluate current empirical studies to provide insights into badge designs and their effectiveness. The current review drew on 32 articles (i.e., 42 interventions) published between 2013 and 2022. The review indicated that: (1) most studies were conducted in higher education and had relatively short duration; (2) badges varied in design strategies, while most studies only focused on the presence or absence of badges and neglected design-related differences; (3) badges could support students’ learning (e.g., motivation, engagement) when appropriately designed; (4) students generally had positive perceptions of badges. Future research directions are also discussed.

Authors

• Chunqi Li, University of Hong Kong

• Luke K. Fryer, University of Hong Kong