Exploring Learners Experience of Gamified Practicing: For Learning or for Fun?

Educational gamification frequently struggles to maintain long-term student engagement due to a lack of robust theoretical foundations. To address this, the OneUp platform integrates Self-Determination Theory and goal-setting principles to harmonize utilitarian learning objectives with hedonic, game-like experiences. By utilizing configurable mechanics such as virtual currency, streaks, and dynamic challenges, the system fosters autonomy, competence, and relatedness, effectively bridging the gap between academic requirements and engaging, rule-based environments.

Empirical research conducted within a Data Structures course demonstrates that gamification significantly boosts participation in voluntary practice sessions compared to traditional, non-gamified methods. While students primarily engage with these platforms to achieve utilitarian outcomes like improved grades, the inclusion of hedonic elements—specifically competition and rewards—serves to amplify and sustain this commitment. The findings indicate that the most effective learning environments rely on a synergistic interplay between extrinsic and intrinsic motivations, a balance that neither utilitarian nor hedonic features can achieve in isolation.

Ultimately, gamified platforms successfully transform standard academic tasks into more compelling experiences, leading to increased and more consistent student practice. Despite these successes, challenges persist regarding the personalization of these systems to meet diverse learner needs and the long-term maintenance of student interest. Future development must focus on refining these design elements to ensure that gamification remains a sustainable tool for academic success rather than a transient novelty.