Enhancing Learning Experience: Top 5 Gamification Features for Your Learning App

Imagine a confused 5 foot 7 inch human being lost in an endless ocean of information. Yup, that's me.

The entire office space echoed aggressive mouse clicks later that evening, as I was busy closing my way through 27 opened tabs on google chrome before I headed home.

It’d only been a few days since I’d joined Flyy, but as a content creator the vast amount of information to choose from was spread in front of me like an all-you-can-eat buffet. And as someone with a very little appetite, that did not sound like good news.

At one counter you’d find "customer acquisition curry", "customer retention risotto" at the other "customer engagement espresso" next to it. But the one counter that caught my eye was "Gamification Gulab Jamun".

As I read more about gamification, I was fascinated. So I quickly produced an article and went to Venky Sir, our CTO and co-founder of Flyy, for approval. As a veteran in the scene, he quickly knew that this article of mine lacked depth. But the advice he gave me next stuck by me.

For someone so lost in the buffet world, his words back then translated to “You can only explain to other people how good a dish is if you understand every aspect of it, from its ingredients, the process of making it to the final taste. So start with increasing your appetite and work your way up”.

This is precisely what learning truly is. Making mistakes, taking advice from those who know better and building on it. But aren’t such situations and resources hard to come by you may ask?

You’re absolutely right. But thanks to learning apps, the once tedious, long and serious process is now extremely fun, easy and addictive.

But what makes these learning apps so effective these days? How do they turn learning anything into a fun activity? Why are so many people so driven towards these apps?

The answer to all those questions is; Gamification.

The introduction of gamification elements in educational apps has proven to be a powerful method for boosting user engagement and motivation. By leveraging game mechanics, these apps create an immersive and enjoyable experience that encourages active participation in the learning process.

Top 5 Must Have Gamification Features For Learning Apps:

1. Rewards, Stickers & Achievements:

Among the top most satisfying moments of my life is when I unlocked the Sharpshooter achievement in DuoLingo for having completed 100 lessons without any mistakes. Rewards,stickers & achievements are a crucial gamification feature that act as virtual incentives.

These serve as tangible recognition of learners' achievements, progress, or milestones. Unlocking rewards or earning stickers instills a sense of accomplishment, motivating learners to strive for further success. These rewards can include badges, certificates, or virtual goods, which learners can collect, display, and share with other users.

2. Leaderboards:

Introducing leaderboards creates a competitive element in the learning process. Everybody wants to be at the top but only a few can occupy that spot. By showcasing top performers or active participants, learners are motivated to improve their own standing among others.

Leaderboards promote healthy competition, increase engagement and instill a sense of community within the app. They also enable learners to compare progress and performance, encouraging them to push themselves and achieve their learning goals.

Implementing leaderboards can be done in various ways. It can involve ranking learners based on points earned, modules completed, or quiz scores. The leaderboard can be displayed from within the app, allowing learners to see their progress compared to others in real time.

Regular updates and periodic resets ensure ongoing engagement and give users the opportunity to continuously grow with their performance. And since Leaderboards allow learners to compare their progress and performance, they help catapult them to reach new heights and achieve their learning goals. Because at the end of the day, it’s not about getting to the top, it’s about how long you can stay there.

3. Games:

Why go to the arcade when you can experience the arcade right from the comfort of your home? A sure shot way to have fun by learning is to include an element of games into it. Incorporating games into educational apps drastically transforms the learning experience into an interactive and enjoyable journey. Transporting both kids and adults into an ecstatic dreamland.

Educational games in specific can help grasp specific learning objectives, providing a fun way for learners to acquire knowledge and practice skills. The types of educational games that can be included in learning apps are of multiple types and can focus on various subjects and age groups.

They can range from quizzes and puzzles that test your knowledge to even simulations that allow you to apply concepts in a practical way.

Interactive storytelling is another aspect that can be used to engage users emotionally and hence promote a deeper understanding of complex topics. By combining educational content with gameplay, learning apps can make the learning process more enjoyable and effective.

4. In-app Points/Currency:

A wise woman once said; “Be the last one out to get this dough? No way!” This very quote is the embodiment of the fact that implementing a points or currency system allows learners to earn virtual credits based on their learning activities, paving the way for a competitive environment which inturn motivates users.

These credits can be used to unlock additional content, access exclusive features, or even customize your avatars. Accumulating points also creates a sense of progress and encourages users to continue their learning journey. All while fostering a sense of value and investment in the app. Who said money can’t buy happiness?

5. Referrals:

Apps without referral programs are like a French breakfast without a croissant, they don’t attract too many people. It’s no secret that apps can significantly enhance their user engagement and expand their user base through carefully crafted referral programs. Educational apps in particular can benefit largely by having users invite friends or colleagues to join the app, and become advocates for the platform.

Just imagine rewards such as extra points, exclusive content, or premium access for successful referrals. It’s no surprise that these exciting little bits of dopamine increase user retention and organic growth.

And the cherry on the cake is the fact that referral programs not only encourage users to actively promote the app, but also help in creating a sense of community and collaboration amongst the user base.

Referral programs can be designed to reward both the referrer and the referred user as well. Think of this for an example, users who successfully refer others can earn extra points, unlock exclusive content, or even gain access to premium features.

Similarly, the referred users can receive incentives upon signing up, such as bonus points or access to other special features in the app. By implementing Flyy’s referral programs for example, apps can tap into the power of social networks, hence encouraging users to actively promote the app and fostering collaboration among users.

The inclusion of gamification features has by all means revolutionized the approach to learning by creating engaging, interactive, and enjoyable experiences. By mixing in rewards and stickers, leaderboards, games, in-app points/currency, and referral programs, educational apps can significantly increase user engagement, motivation, and knowledge retention.

Hence, we can safely conclude that leveraging gamification transforms learning into a dynamic environment, fostering a lifelong passion for acquiring knowledge.