Informatics Portal - A Prototype using Gamification to Motivate a Greater Study Effort

Abstract

The aim of this thesis was to design a system which uses gamification to motivate study effort in the long term. Gamification is widely used to create engagement among people. Yet, the use has often been limited to single or short-term settings. There is a lack of knowledge on how to design gamification for maintained motivation over longer periods of time. The system was designed for students at the degree program Bachelor of Science in Informatics at NTNU, campus Gløshaugen, with a focus on them wanting to use the system throughout the life cycle of a bachelor s degree.

The design was built upon a literature review of how gamification facilitates short-term and long-term motivation. Furthermore, user investigations consisting of a questionnaire and workshop were conducted to help define user requirements for the system. Finally, a prototype of mockups implementing the user requirements was created and evaluated.

The prototype presents a successful skeleton of a system implementing gamification for long-term motivation of study effort. Results showed that nine out of ten thought the system would motivate them in the long term and that nine out of ten thought they would want to use the system over a period of three years.