Strategies for Meaningful Gamification: Concepts behind Transformative Play and Participatory Museums

Scott Nicholson

Abstract

Meaningful gamification is the use of game design elements to help users find meaning in a non-game context. Rather than focus on external rewards and a scoring system, meaningful gamification focuses on play to engage participants in a ludic learning space. In this article, concepts of transformative play and learning are combined with principles behind science museums and participatory exhibit design to create strategies for designers of meaningful gamification activities.