Duolingo: A Case Study in Gamification

1. A Case Study in Gamification
Geraldine Exton; Liam Murray
University of Limerick,
Ireland

2. Duolingo
• www.duolingo.com
• Freely available wherever there is internet
access
• Inclusive/accessible
• Translate the web
• Crowdsourcing

3. Games in Language Learning
• Game types have diversified
– Real-time strategy, MMORPG, social games, FPS
• Focus on games in L2 learning
– (Reinhardt)
– Games in the classroom
– Games as leisure activities
– Games to complement learning

4. What is Gamification?
• the use of game design elements in non-
game contexts
Deterding

5. Why Gamification?
• When looking for motivational affordances to
increase participation and engagement of
learners
–Game elements - gamification
• Connect gamification and motivation

6. Motivation
• Self-Determination Theory
Ryan and Deci
• Three components to be fulfilled:
Competence Autonomy Relatedness
• Skill mastery • Choice • Social connectedness

7. Gamification and Motivation
• Taxonomy:
–Linking specific game elements to these
components of motivation
• Why?
–Address criticism
• gamification slaps elements all over the place
–Work the motivational needs into the
design

8. Gamification and Motivation
Taxonomy
Takes 16 elements found in games
Looks at their target behaviours
Links these to Competence, Autonomy,
Relatedness
Shows why this is important
Shows when it occurs in gamified system

9. Gamification and Motivation
Taxonomy
Game Element Competence Autonomy Relatedness
Achievements ●
Avatars ● ● ●
Badges ● ●
Boss Fights ●
Collections ● ●
Combat ●
Content-Unlocking ● ●
Discussion forums ● ● ●
Gifting ● ●
Leader-boards ● ●
Levels ● ● ●
Points ●
Quests ● ● ●
Social Graphs ● ●
Teams ●
Virtual Goods ● ● ●

10. Application to Duolingo

11. Gamification in Duolingo
• 11 out of the 16 elements present
– Highly gamified
• Only boss fights, collections, combat, quests,
teams not present

12. Gamification in Duolingo
COMPETENCE
• Duolingo home
page: skills tree
(achievements)
• High emphasis on
mastery of skills
• 9/11 elements fulfil
competence needs

13. Gamification in Duolingo
AUTONOMY
• Duolingo lingot store
• 4/11 Autonomy-
related
• Choice re: avatars,
discussion forums,
gifting & virtual goods
(lingots)

14. Gamification in Duolingo
RELATEDNESS
• Duolingo discussion
page
• Discussion forums:
communities of
practice
• 9/11 Relatedness

15. Gamification in Duolingo
From Taxonomy:
• 14/16 Competence
–9 in Duolingo
• 6/16 Autonomy
–4 in Duolingo
• 12/16 Relatedness
–9 in Duolingo

16. Gamification in Duolingo
• 100 million users (as of June 2015)
• Language learning always looking for ways to
motivate learners:
gamification is key to Duolingo success
• Accessible, free, fun
• Community of learners helping each other

17. References
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18. References
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