Book Image

Gamification with Moodle

By : Natalie Denmeade
Book Image

Gamification with Moodle

By: Natalie Denmeade

Overview of this book

This book describes how teachers can use Gamification design within the Moodle Learning Management System. Game elements can be included in course design by using, badges, rubrics, custom grading scales, forums, and conditional activities. Moodle courses do not have to be solo-learning experiences that replicate Distance Education models. The Gamification design process starts by profiling players and creating levels of achievement towards meeting learning outcomes. Each task is defined, valued, and sequenced. Motivation loops are devised to keep the momentum going. In a gaming studio, this approach would require a team of specialists with a large budget and time frames. Preparing for a class rarely has these optimal conditions. The approach used in this book is to introduce game elements into the course design gradually. First, apply gamification to just one lesson and then build up to gamifying a series of lessons over a term. Each example will indicate the difficulty level and time investment. Try it out to see what is most effective with your learners and choose wisely in your use of technology. By the end of this book, you will be able to create Moodle courses that incorporate choice, communication, challenge, and creativity.
Table of Contents (18 chapters)
Gamification with Moodle
Credits
Foreword
About the Author
Acknowledgement
About the Reviewers
www.PacktPub.com
Preface
6
Mastery Achieved (Badges and Motivation)
8
Completing the Quest (Reporting Activities)
Index

Moodle assignments


The most popular activity used in Moodle is the assignment activity that is mostly used to upload a document for grading. With some creative thinking, you can implement many game elements with this simple activity:

Figure 3.1: Turn editing on and add activities. Select Moodle Assignment

The assignment activity can be used to record scores for offline activities. Under Submission types, unselect all boxes. The learners will see a message indicating that no submission is required. Teachers can use this as a quick method to enter scores for all or some learners, which will be added up in the gradebook. Once set up, the activity can be duplicated for each week.

Try this in your test course, and then duplicate one for each week:

  1. Turn editing on, and add a new activity or resource.

  2. Select Assignment, and unselect the upload option tick boxes:

    Figure 3.2: The assignment activity allows you to choose if you allow any upload methods

  3. In the Grade box, make sure you choose Week 2 as the...