Love, Learning & Level-Ups: How Gamification Rekindled One Woman’s Passion for Growth

When Passion Fades, Engagement Suffers

Sarah had always dreamed of making a difference. She poured her heart into creating an online wellness course—an experience designed to help people navigate stress, anxiety, and burnout.

At first, the feedback was positive. A few early students loved her content, but as the weeks passed, engagement started to wane. Completion rates dropped, and people stopped interacting. The community she envisioned was pretty much a ghost town.

She had built a course with valuable insights, but something was still missing.

Then, on a rainy February evening—just days before Valentine’s Day—Sarah sat at her desk, staring at a sea of unread discussion posts. That’s when she asked herself the question that changed everything:

"What if my course isn’t just about learning? What if it’s about playing?"

Gamification: The Spark That Reignited Engagement

Sarah searched deep into gamification, the art of integrating game mechanics into learning. She discovered that elements like badges, leaderboards, challenges, and rewards weren’t just gimmicks; they tapped into fundamental human psychology.

People crave progress. They love recognition. They engage more when there’s a sense of achievement and friendly competition.

She decided to revamp her course using four key gamification elements:

Progress Bars & Milestones: Students could see their journey mapped out like a quest, encouraging them to push forward.
Badges & Rewards: Small wins—like completing a module—earned them a badge and a celebratory message.
Challenges & Streaks: She introduced “Wellness Wins,” where students had to complete a daily challenge for seven days to unlock a bonus resource.
Community Leaderboards: Friendly competition turned the discussion forum into a buzzing hub of activity.

The result? A 180-degree transformation in engagement.

From Struggle to Success: A Course That Felt Like Falling in Love Again

Sarah’s course, once lifeless, now thrived. Students weren’t just completing lessons—they were excited to log in daily.

The badges? People proudly shared them on social media.
The streaks? Some students competed to keep their learning momentum going for over a month.
The leaderboard? It fostered collaboration rather than competition, with top students mentoring those who fell behind.

More importantly, Sarah found her love for teaching again. The impact she always wanted? It was happening—one gamified lesson at a time.

Why Gamification Works (And The Science Behind It)

Sarah’s story isn’t unique. Gamification isn’t just a trend—it’s backed by science. Research shows engagement, motivation, and learning outcomes significantly improve when gamification elements are integrated into education.

Gamification enhances dopamine release. Studies in neuroscience reveal that achievements, such as earning a badge or completing a challenge, trigger the release of dopamine, the “feel-good” neurotransmitter linked to motivation and reward (Burgers et al., 2015). This reinforces positive behaviour and encourages students to continue learning.

It taps into self-determination theory (SDT). According to Deci & Ryan (2000), human motivation is driven by autonomy, competence, and relatedness—all of which gamification enhances. Students engage more deeply When they feel a sense of control, recognize their progress, and connect with peers competitively or collaboratively.

Improved retention & learning performance.  A Hamari et al. (2014) meta-analysis found that gamification increases retention rates and comprehension, particularly when elements like challenges and rewards are personalized.

Increased student engagement. A study by Subhash & Cudney (2018) in the International Journal of Educational Technology found that students in gamified learning environments were twice as likely to complete courses as those in traditional settings.

Gamification improves problem-solving skills. According to Gee (2003), game-based elements foster critical thinking, adaptability, and persistence—skills that directly translate to improved learning outcomes.

Gamification isn’t about turning your course into a video game. It’s about leveraging the psychology of motivation to keep students engaged.

And this Valentine’s Day, perhaps the best love story isn’t just about romance.

It’s about falling in love with learning all over again.

Your Next Move: Bring Gamification Into Your Course

Thinking of adding gamification to your course but not sure where to start?

You don’t need to overhaul everything. Start small:

Add progress bars to track student milestones.
Introduce mini rewards for lesson completions.
Create a leaderboard or challenge to boost community interaction.

Or, if you’re ready to build an unforgettable, gamified learning experience, let’s chat.

As Kajabi experts and instructional designers, we help course creators integrate innovative, effective gamification strategies that increase engagement, retention, and results.

Let’s turn your course into an experience your students love.