Near-Life has partnered with leading gamification educator Professor Karl Kapp to bring game design to the classroom.
The Bolton firm, sixth on our EdTech 50 ranking this year, has developed an easy-to-use platform that lets anyone – including educators, learning professionals and other content creators – make interactive video, VR and gamified content easily, with hotspots and branching scenarios.
Now it has partnered with Professor Kapp – assistant director and faculty member at Bloomsburg University’s Institute for Interactive Technologies in Pennsylvania – to support the delivery of his pioneering class on gamification.
Focused on utilising the principles of game design in the creation of instructional content, Professor Kapp’s course challenges students to harness the power of gamification to create immersive learning experiences.
The partnership with Near-Life will see students tasked with designing their own game-based projects, built using the content platform. These could range from branching scenarios and learning simulations, through to point and click adventures, digital escape rooms and more.
The work delivered by the students will be judged by the Near-Life team, with the leading projects set to be showcased internationally by the software company. The judging criteria will be based around which educational games are deemed best able to engage learners on multiple levels.
“Gamification is not merely about adding game elements to learning; it’s about fundamentally reshaping the learning experience to align with how our brains naturally process information,” said Professor Kapp.
“Through the type of immersive learning experiences gamification can provide, students are empowered beyond passive consumption to actively participate in their own education, driving deeper understanding and long-term retention.
“The increasing recognition of gamification’s value to learning means its adoption will only continue to grow. We want our students to be equipped with the right skills and tools to meet the employment opportunities this will generate.”
Near-Life adds genAI feature to immersive content authoring tool
Mike Todd, CEO of Near-Life – also included on our GM 125 Rising Stars of Business list this year – added: “Our partnership with Professor Kapp underlines our commitment to revolutionising learning through technology.
“By providing content creators with an easy means of producing dynamic, gamified learning experiences, we are committed to helping improve the way people learn. Karl and his students are very much part of the future.
“We can’t wait to see the creative and innovative work the students create.”