Implementation of Gamification from blended learning based on the flex model and efficacy of this program on students: an experiences from Iran, An Quasi-experimentaL Study

Abstract

Background: New gamification technology with a detailed understanding of the goals and prospects, and with the help of game elements and techniques, leads to promotion of motivation and participation, and ultimately behavior change. Methods: In this study, with the design of mental illness lessons for undergraduate and executive groups, using flex model, two parts of technical and educational design were used. In the technical section, three parts on dynamics, mechanisms and elements of gaming were considered. Intervention was studied on different groups of medical students including medical, health, and laboratory sciences and its impact on learning and performance was studied using quantitative and qualitative analyses. Results: The results of the students’ prospective about the efficacy of the method showed that the mean scores of most of the items were higher than the average. This implies that students’ attitude towards using gamification was positive. In the other part, the qualitative results of the study were analyzed and the student's analysis of their advantages and disadvantages and their perceptions on the impact of the intervention were examined. Conclusion: Based on the Flex model, mental gamification based on blended learning is effective in shaping the students' satisfaction.

The Effectiveness of Gamification for Students' Engagement in Technical and Vocational Education and Training

“…Students feel satisfied, have better interactions, stress and worry about the evaluation are lessened, and the generation's psychological requirements are met [28]. It boosts students' skills in discovering and solving complicated problems through simplified learning [8]. It increases student motivation as a stimulus for active participation in higher and continual learning performance.…”

“…The learning environment needs to provide space for communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking in making decisions, developing strategies, and solving problems with the help of technology [7]. This conducive condition is necessary to avoid boredom that limits the ability to perform tasks and creates a feeling of lack of interest, loss of motivation, and absence of student engagement [8].…”

“…A famous example of blended learning is the flipped classroom. Students prepare beforehand using learning materials such as presentation slides or videos before undergoing face-to-face learning with instructor monitoring through various activities such as discussions, presentations, drills, group assignments, and assessments [8].…”