Ludilearn: the essentials you need to know to get started with the free Ludilearn Moodle course format

Ludilearn is a free and innovative course format for Moodle plateforms that aims to improve learner engagement and success through adaptive gamification. It was developed as part of the LudiMoodle+ project.

Unlike simple, uniform gamification, Ludilearn offers a personalised approach that adapts to each learner’s profile or course content.

This guide is intended for all users of the Moodle Ludilearn plugin. It will help you get started quickly with Ludilearn by taking charge of the plugin’s main features.

Adaptive gamification involves offering learners game elements that match their individual preferences in order to maintain and increase their motivation to learn. Scientific research conducted during the project shows that adding games to courses does not necessarily improve motivation and may even have the opposite effect ! It is essential to take into account the different needs of learners : adaptive gamification is there to address this challenge.

Principle

The plugin acts as a ‘smart overlay’: it automatically leverages Moodle’s native features (activity completion and grading system) to add game elements to your courses, without requiring complex configuration or modification of your content.

Since the latest version, Ludilearn has had a responsive interface. Game elements (score, badge, progress, avatar, ranking) update automatically as you navigate, with no need to reload the page manually. This evolution is particularly beneficial for H5P activities: previously, learners had to reload the page to see their game element update after completing an activity. This is no longer necessary – the update takes just a few seconds, seamlessly and transparently.

Teachers and trainers don’t need to do anything extra: gamification automatically adapts to the course structure and existing activities, based on the learner’s profile or the teacher’s choices. Ludilearn promotes engagement, motivation and success, while remaining easy to use and compatible with all Moodle activities.

Key features :

• Adaptive gamification is based on the learner’s player profile obtained via the HEXAD 12 model.

• A questionnaire is provided to learners to identify their player profile when using the automatic (adaptive) assignment mode. It is possible to use other modes for assigning game elements depending on the course or learning objectives.
• There are six different game elements that are assigned according to the user’s profile.
• Integration is seamless with existing Moodle activities and resources.

• Allows learners to accumulate points by completing activities
• Automatically adapts to different types of activities
• Includes a multiplier and completion bonus system

• Reward learners with badges of different levels (Gold, Silver, Bronze, completion bonus badge)
• Awarded based on grades and completion of activities

• Displays the overall progress in the course
• Automatically adapts to different types of activities
• Calculation based on grades and completion

• Allows learners to customise their visual representation and equip an avatar
• Gradual unlocking of items (hats, clothing, accessories, etc.)
• Based on grades and completion

• Adds a timing dimension to quizzes
• Records completion time with a penalty system for errors
• Works only with quizzes

• Provides a comparative view of the results
• Based on grades

To activate Ludilearn on your course, you do not need to modify your content. Ludilearn acts as an overlay that will automatically adapt all resources and activities based on activity completion and grades.

To get started quickly:

1. Go to the course settings.
2. In the “course format” section, select Ludilearn.
3. Choose the allocation mode for the game elements assignments.
4. Choose your graphic universe.
5. Save your changes.

Video tutorial : transforming an existing course into a gamified course with Ludilearn (48 seconds)

Ludilearn offers several ways to assign game elements. Select the desired mode: manual, automatic, or by section.

In this mode, the teacher selects a single game element that will be applied to the entire lesson. This is the simplest option for beginners.

Video tutorial: using manual assignment mode in Ludilearn (49 seconds)

This mode uses an algorithm to suggest the most suitable game element for each learner’s profile, as determined by an initial questionnaire.

Video tutorial: using automatic mode in Ludilearn (56 seconds)

The teacher configures the game elements to be used for each section, allowing for detailed customisation according to the educational content.

Ludilearn offers three graphic universes tailored to different audiences. In the course format settings, choose the theme that suits your audience:

• School universe : Colorfull and playfull design
• High school universe : Modern and dynamic aesthetics
• Professionnal universe : Simple and professional interface

When editing the course, you can disable gamification for an activity or resource. This way, even if it has activity completion or a grade, the activity will not be gamified.

• Enable edit mode on the course home page.
  
• Locate your activity and click on the ‘action’ menu.
• Use the ‘Do not gamify’ option to exclude the resource or activity from gamification.

The Ludilearn report allows you to :

• View which game element is assigned to each learner
• Track overall progress
• View each user’s last access
• Analyse learner engagement

Once the Ludilearn course format has been activated, you can access the Ludilearn report from the course’s ‘More’ menu to track the assignment of game elements and learners’ progress.

Ludilearn propose désormais deux fonctionnalités complémentaires pour gérer les situations individuelles sans modifier le mode d’attribution général du cours. These options can be accessed from the Report page (“More” menu in the course).

Regardless of the allocation mode configured for the course (automatic, manual or by section), it is possible to directly select the game element for a particular learner.

There are several situations that can justify this customization:

• The teacher knows the learner’s motivational profile and knows which elements are right for him/her
• The learner expresses the wish to use another game element
• The assigned item does not produce the expected commitment
• The learner wishes to deactivate gamification (option "Non ludifié")

How to proceed :

1. Access the Report page from the Ludilearn breadcrumb trail or the course’s “More” menu.
2. In the table of participants, locate the relevant learner
3. Click on the name of the game element in the “Game element” column
4. A drop-down menu appears with the 6 available elements (Score, Badge, Progress, Avatar, Ranking, Timer) and the “Non-gamified” option.
5. Select the new item – the change is saved immediately

In automatic assignment mode, Ludilearn assigns a game element to each learner based on their answers to the HEXAD-12 questionnaire. It is sometimes useful to reset this allocation to allow a learner to retake the questionnaire.

Typical use cases :

• The learner answered the questionnaire too quickly without understanding what was at stake.
• The learner’s motivational profile has evolved over the course of the course
• The learner feels that the assigned item does not correspond to his/her real preferences

How to proceed :

1. Go to the Report page
2. Locate the learner in the participant table
3. Click on the red “Reset automatic game element” button in the last column .

What happens after the reset:

• Game element assignment deleted
• The next time the learner logs on to the course, he or she is automatically redirected to the HEXAD-12 questionnaire.
• A new element is assigned to it based on its new answers.
• Your progress through the course (grades, completions, points) is fully preserved

Important: This feature is only available in automatic assignment mode. It does not appear if the course is in manual or section mode.

1. Install the Ludilearn plugin on your Moodle platform
2. Choose the ‘Ludilearn’ course format in the course settings
3. Choose the assignment mode (manual, automatic, or by section)
4. Select the default game element
5. Choose the graphic universe that suits your audience
6. Configure the sections if you are using section mode
7. Test the display from the learner’s perspective
8. Consult the Ludilearn report to check the assignment of game elements (in the case of automatic assignment)
9. Communicate with learners about gamification elements
10. Regularly check on the learners’ engagement via the report
11. If necessary, manually assign a game element to a learner from the report.
12. In automatic mode, allow a learner to retake the HEXAD-12 questionnaire using the reset button.

To learn more about using Ludilearn and better understand the scientific foundations of adaptive gamification, here is a selection of essential resources:

Our article to learn more about the scientific approach : Ludilearn : adaptive gamification on Moodle based on research

Download the plugin from the official platform : Plugin Ludilearn sur Moodle.org

User guide for the Moodle plugin ‘Ludilearn’ (PDF, 3,8 Mo) (in french)

Adaptation algorithm and scientific expertise

LudiLearn contains an adaptation algorithm developed by the SICAL team at the LIRIS laboratory. This algorithm is based on data collected during experiments conducted with secondary school pupils at the Lyon Academy (France). The laboratory also contributed its expertise to the design of the game elements.

Visit the website listing the various scientific articles: Official website of the Ludimoodle+ project (in french)

Comprehensive training course on gamification in digital skills at Jean Moulin Lyon 3 University (in french)

A comprehensive training course on adaptive gamification in blended learning is available to teachers via Magistère.