Why we learn more at play – gamification and rewards for learning

You don’t need to be a Fortnite aficionado (trust me, I’m not) to identify with Roald Dahl’s astute observation that ‘life is more fun if you play games.’ Consider how many times a day you already engage with gamified content, whether that be ‘hitting like’ on social media; achieving medals and getting ‘kudos’ from your friends on your running app; feeling compelled to spend your loyalty points at your favourite store; or drilling yourself in Russian every morning with virtual flashcards (true story—I taught myself Russian through such ‘games’ to do my PhD). From fitness to language learning, more adults are aspiring to better themselves by embracing their inner child, proving that there is no age limit on play.