Gamification in Computer Engineering Education

Gamification can be used as a tool in computer engineering education to increase the engagement of students with the learning process. This study aimed to use the principles of gamification to design a supplementary learning tool for the teaching of information systems technology, in particular to improve student understanding and use of Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) diagrams. This study also analysed the effectiveness of different game elements at increasing student motivation and performance. A prototype web application was developed which implemented three different designs, each one incorporating different game elements relating to either progress, competition or rewards. An evaluation was then conducted on the prototype to evaluate the effectiveness of the gamification and improve the usability of the tool. The design incorporating rewards based game elements was found to be the most motivational for students, performing strongly in all criteria when compared to the progress and competition based designs. The individual game elements found to be the most motivational were, in order: rewards, levels, progress bars, and aesthetics. The application also performed very well in terms of usability. Overall the web application was found to have a positive effect on improving the BPMN modelling practices of students.