Gamification for Learning Sustainability in the Blackboard System: Motivators and Obstacles from Faculty Members’ Perspectives

Abstract

Gamification is one of the basic components that enhance the sustainability of learning management systems (LMSs) in improving learning outcomes and motivating learners to face challenges and continue effectively in implementing educational tasks. Some of the LMSs do not have an integrated structure for gamification, but there are some simple tools that can be relied upon in managing gamification processes, and among these is the Blackboard system. Blackboard is witnessing a high level of use in the educational process within King Abdulaziz University, as it has been the main e-learning system at the university since the COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, the present study was an attempt to identify the motivators and obstacles of employing gamification through the Blackboard system from the faculty members’ point of view. The study relied on the interpretive paradigm, where a phenomenological approach was used to find out the motivators that encourage 12 faculty members at King Abdulaziz University to use gamification via Blackboard, and to identify the obstacles that might dissuade them. The results of the study were as follows: the main motivators included attracting attention, engaging in learning, motivation, and entertainment, while the main obstacles included time, digital skills, technical issues, lack of resources, contentment, and indifference. The results of this study suggest that while there are motivators for faculty members to employ gamification in electronic courses, there are still the same number of obstacles facing staff members in employing gamification in digital learning environments.

Enhancing ESG learning outcomes through gamification: An experimental study

“…Gamification can significantly enhance this feeling of ownership by allowing students to control certain aspects of their learning journey, such as choosing tasks or setting personal goals. When students feel a sense of ownership over their learning, they are more likely to be engaged and motivated, leading to better learning outcomes [ 16 , 17 ]. Gamification strategies that offer autonomy and personalized learning paths are particularly effective in fostering this sense of ownership.…”

Exploring the Satisfaction and Continuance Intention to Use E-Learning Systems

“…Another example is Blackboard, which is used by numerous universities all around the world. According to [23], Blackboard is a recognized learning management system. Course administration, communication tools, and evaluation tools are only some of its many features and functions.…”

Students’ Imaginative Skills to Create a Simple Gamification on Chemistry Material

“…Gamification is a learning media that can be developed as a medium for exploration and elaboration of learning material, which can increase the learning output so that the learning process output can be optimal. Gamification provides a variety of development options so that development can be tailored to needs, both student needs and the characteristics of learning materials and content ( (Alzahrani & Alhalafawy, 2023); (Oliveira et al, 2023)). Gamification is able to accommodate content development according to needs and can be developed continuously so that development can be adapted to current developments, whether development is carried out as a whole or partial development ( (Wang, 2023); (Xiao & Hew, 2024); (Parkerson, 2023)).…”