Content Gamification Vs Structured Gamification In E-Learning

There is no doubt that e-learning gamification is one the most favorite corporate learning strategies for various corporate training requirements. Gamification of learning is a broad term that can be further divided into two types-structural gamification and content gamification. Both structural gamification and content gamification give a game like experience but their design methodologies differ.
Hence in this blog, let’s explore these two important types of gamification through a quick comparison on important parameters.

Point of difference	Structured Gamification	Content Gamification
Meaning	Is the application of game elements with no alteration or changes to the learning content. The gamification structure is built around the content.	Is the application of game elements and game thinking by altering the learning content and make it look more game like
Game mechanics and Game elements	Structural Gamification is characterized by the use of game mechanics such as badges, point and leaderboards, which can be included irrespective of the learning content.	Content gamification makes use of game mechanics such as challenges, storytelling, feedback loops, freedom to fail in order to immerse learners. Rewards in general are the incentive to engage and encourage learners to continue the learning process and are built around the nature of content in content gamification. For example, a infosec compliance related topic the reward mechanism could be a security badge or for anti-bribery it could be shields etc
Learning objectives	In structured gamification, the objectives are not a part of the gamification process and only results are included in gamification	In content gamification, the learners continue to explore and learn without knowing the learning objectives upfront like during a gamified employee induction process, the learner is given a tour of the office or the manufacturing plant and then is supposed to answer some questions based on the content and earn rewards etc
Cost of development	The cost of developing structured gamification is initially higher as it a one time cost and involves building a platform on which gamification elements can be included.However, the challenging part of such a platform is linking it to the main ERP or LMS	The process of developing content gamification involves altering the content to look more game like which is more complex in nature. Hence the cost of development for content gamification though not very high is more of a recurring nature especially when there is a change in the content.
Time for development	Development time may range from four weeks for an elementary platform to upto 6 months for a complex gamification platform. However, once the gamification platform is developed it requires minimal time to put any content on it and give it a look of gamified learning content	As content gamification requires more intense planning to restructure/alter the content to make it look like a game, the initial conceptualization time is high but the development time is simplified and content gamification can be developed within 4-6 weeks. .Also, content gamification demands more increased association with key stakeholders like SME etc(all these delays the production process)
Reusability	Since there is no alteration or changes to the content in structured gamification, Once developed, it can be only used for fulfilling other learning objectives.	Content Gamification is a one-time structure created only for a specific content or learning objectives and hence cannot be reused for any content.
Content updation	With minor changes in the instructional design, it’s possible to make quick content updation in case of structured gamification.	The instructional designer needs to rework probably with the entire content before updating the content.