Gamification in e-learning: A Systematic Review of Benefits, Challenges, and Future Possibilities

Abstract

Gamification strategies have been used increasingly in e-learning environments for improved engagement and effectiveness of learners. The aim of this systematic review is to identify the benefits and challenges of gamification of e-learning systems. Additionally, it has also objective to examine the impact of gamification on the effectiveness of learning in e-learning systems. Therefore, this systematic review explores the advantages of incorporating game elements into e-learning systems, addresses the challenges encountered during this integration, and discusses the future research opportunities presented in recent studies. A total of 37 studies published in the past decade, between 2014 and 2023, were reviewed in this paper. The findings revealed that gamification had improved student motivation and engagement levels. Moreover, from a design perspective, teachers believe that there is a need to enhance the design elements of gamified e-learning systems to better align the gamified elements with the intended learning objectives. Overall, this review provided significant insights into current research on gamification in e-learning and highlighted the need for further comprehensive research in the area.