Game on: reflexões sobre uma experiência de ludificação da unidade curricular de Gestão de Recursos Humanos do Mestrado Integrado em Engenharia e Gestão Industrial

Abstract

The use of games in Education can encourage/demand students to apply deeper levels of knowledge and competences in solving problems - even if these are simulated or of controlled difficulty level - requiring more than the simple memorization and repetition expressed in tests. Game based approaches have a considerable potential in stimulating critical and strategic thinking that is highly compatible with Bologna's competency model and also make it possible to make learning a more collaborative social activity, which is crucial in the XXI century. The pedagogical team of the course in Human Resources Management of the Integrated Masters in Industrial Engineering and Management developed a gamification model based on a literature review and a reflection in order to support the development of competences, strategies and frameworks in the area of Social Sciences that typically these students somewhat resisted. This paper presents the rationale, system, platform and strategies as well as the main reflections this experiment sparked in students and professors. We believe this work can contribute to the development of game centred approaches in higher education, providing thinking points and insights for other researchers and lecturers.