Effects of gamification on students’ online interactive patterns and peer-feedback

ABSTRACT

Gamification offers potential for improving students’ online discussion quantity and the depth of discussion content. However, very few studies have examined the social network patterns when students are posting and providing peer-feedback to each other in gamification-based environments. In response to those gaps, this study used a learning analytics approach to understand the effects of gamification on students’ online interactive patterns, posting quantity, and peer-feedback quality. The social network analysis results showed that students in the gamification-based course had denser networks than those in the control group. More students were active in the network compared with the control group. Content analysis revealed that students provided higher quality peer-feedback than students in the control group. This study provides empirical evidence for the positive effects of gamification on students’ online interaction. Future research trends and the limitations of this study are also discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• learning analytics
• gamification
• online interactive pattern
• social network
• peer-feedback performance

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Professor John Bacon-Shone and Associate Professor Jianwen Fang for their kind advice on processing the social network analysis. With their help, this study is more comprehensive in understanding the impact of gamification on online discussion. This study is supported in part by the University of Hong Kong under a teaching development grant (2014–2017). Associate Professor Khe Foon Hew is the principal investigator of this project.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Biyun Huang

Biyun Huang is a PhD candidate in the Information and Technology Studies Division, Faculty of Education, at the University of Hong Kong. Her research interests are gamification, student engagement and motivation, MOOCs, and e-learning design.

Gwo-Jen Hwang

Gwo-Jen Hwang is a Chair Professor at the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology. His research interests include mobile and ubiquitous learning, flipped learning, digital game-based learning, and artificial intelligence in education.

Khe Foon Hew

Khe Foon Hew is Associate Professor in the Information Technology Studies Division, Faculty of Education, at the University of Hong Kong. His research interests include computer-mediated communication, and learning design & technology.

Peter Warning

Peter Warning is a Lecturer in the Information Technology Studies Division, Faculty of Education, at the University of Hong Kong. His research interests include information management, library and information management, and teacher librarianship.