A game-based learning system based on octalysis gamification framework to promote employees’ Japanese learning

Using digital learning to assist in-service employees in promoting language skills has become an efficient way that can save training costs and profits. However, the employees’ language learning performance often is not as expected due to low learning motivation, willingness, and persistence. Therefore, this study developed a game-based Japanese learning system based on the Octalysis gamification framework proposed by Chou (2016) to facilitate enterprise employees’ learning effectiveness of Japanese as a second language (L2). All the eight core drives of the Octalysis gamification framework were adopted in the design of the learning functions and gamification mechanisms, including “epic meaning and calling,” “development and accomplishment,” “empowerment of creativity and feedback,” “ownership and possession,” “social influence and relatedness,” “scarcity and impatience,” “unpredictability and curiosity,” and “loss and avoidance.” This study used a true experimental design and recruited 54 Taiwanese employees from a Taiwan branch of an international Japanese business company to conduct a two-week experiment. The research participants were randomly assigned as the experimental and control groups respectively, using a Japanese learning system with or without a game-based design to support their Japanese learning. This study confirmed that the game-based Japanese learning system could significantly enhance the learners’ engagement in learning behaviors, learning performance, learning motivation, and immersion experience. In addition, for most learning functions designed by applying the core drives regarded as intrinsic motivators in the Octalysis gamification framework, the more frequently the learners used the functions, the better they performed in learning performance. Moreover, several learning functions designed by employing positive or negative motivators also had significant positive correlations between the number of use and learning performance. This study contributes to the digital game-based language learning field by applying the Octalysis gamification framework to design an effective game-based Japanese learning system for company employees and examine the correlations between the use of the learning functions and learning performance.