Gamification in online discussions: How do game elements affect critical thinking?

New affordances for online discussion forums are increasingly explored. In this regard, gamification elements such as badges, progress bars and progress visualizations are used in order to increase students’ engagement and participation. This study uses the Community of Inquiry model to explore students’ critical thinking under the effect of a) a community and b) individual gamification elements, over two discussions. Reaching the last discussion of the course, the students, who were awarded individual gamification elements, attained higher levels of critical thinking compared to the students that were awarded community gamification elements. Teaching presence has been influenced by the gamification elements provided, regardless of their type. The results highlight the value of gamification on the student’s conscious awareness of their own thinking and learning.