{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,11]],"date-time":"2026-04-11T17:15:22Z","timestamp":1775927722414,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":36,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2019,7,26]],"date-time":"2019-07-26T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1564099200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Informatics"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), regardless of their topic, are a perfect space to generate, through virtual learning communities associated with them, very valuable resources for their participants and, in general, anyone interested in the topic covered. If in the design of these learning spaces, elements specific to games are added to them, which is known as gamification, we can try to increase the engagement of the student towards the course and, therefore, towards the community. This paper presents an experience of a MOOC of Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (Spain) with a connectivist approach. Aspects such as fun and motivation have been worked on in the design, through the application of gamified activities and the use of elements from social networks, considered as gamification, with the aim of increasing participation and engagement within a Facebook group, used as a community to support the course. We have analyzed aspects such as enjoyment and motivation, the result of which has been active participation and high engagement within the MOOC community in the form of content and especially great interaction, highlighting the existence of continuous activity once the edition of the MOOC is finished, as a consequence of a habit generated in the student.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/informatics6030028","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2019,7,26]],"date-time":"2019-07-26T11:55:22Z","timestamp":1564142122000},"page":"28","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":21,"title":["Enhancing Fun through Gamification to Improve Engagement in MOOC"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"6","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1866-1857","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Oriol","family":"Borr\u00e1s-Gen\u00e9","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Departamento Ciencias de la Computaci\u00f3n, Arquitectura de Computadores, Lenguajes y Sistemas Inform\u00e1ticos y Estad\u00edstica e Investigaci\u00f3n Operativa, LITE Group\u2014Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28933 Madrid, Spain"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4135-5735","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Margarita","family":"Mart\u00ednez-N\u00fa\u00f1ez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Departamento de Ingenier\u00eda de Organizaci\u00f3n, Administraci\u00f3n de Empresas y Estad\u00edstica, Universidad Polit\u00e9cnica de Madrid, 28031 Madrid, Spain"}]},{"given":"Luis","family":"Mart\u00edn-Fern\u00e1ndez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Departamento de Ingenier\u00eda de Organizaci\u00f3n, Administraci\u00f3n de Empresas y Estad\u00edstica, Universidad Polit\u00e9cnica de Madrid, 28031 Madrid, Spain"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2019,7,26]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Stracke, C.M. (2017, January 9\u201314). The Quality of MOOCs: How to improve the design of open education and online courses for learners?. Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Learning and Collaboration Technologies, Vancouver, BC, Canada.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-319-58509-3_23"},{"key":"ref_2","first-page":"1","article-title":"Connectivism: A learning theory for the digital age","volume":"2","author":"Siemens","year":"2005","journal-title":"Int. J. Instr. Technol. Dis. Learn."},{"key":"ref_3","unstructured":"Martinez, S. (2014, January 23\u201325). OCW (OpenCourseWare) and MOOC (open course Where?). Proceedings of the OpenCourseWare Consortium Global, Ljubljana, Slovenia."},{"key":"ref_4","unstructured":"Siemens, G. (2019, July 02). Massive Open Online Courses: Innovation in Education?. Available online: https:\/\/oerknowledgecloud.org\/sites\/oerknowledgecloud.org\/files\/pub_PS_OER-IRP_CH1.pdf."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sein-Echaluce, M.L., Fidalgo-Blanco, \u00c1., and Garc\u00eda-Pe\u00f1alvo, F.J. (2017, January 9\u201314). Adaptive and cooperative model of knowledge management in MOOCs. Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Learning and Collaboration Technologies, Vancouver, BC, Canada.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-319-58509-3_22"},{"key":"ref_6","first-page":"638","article-title":"Detection and Evaluation of Emotions in Massive Open Online Courses","volume":"21","author":"Leony","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. UCS"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"24","DOI":"10.1186\/s41239-016-0024-z","article-title":"From massive access to cooperation: Lessons learned and proven results of a hybrid xMOOC\/cMOOC pedagogical approach to MOOCs","volume":"13","year":"2016","journal-title":"Int. J. Educ. Technol. High. Educ."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Borr\u00e1s-Gen\u00e9, O. (2019, January 20\u201322). Empowering MOOC Participants: Dynamic Content Adaptation Through External Tools. Proceedings of the European MOOCs Stakeholders Summit 2019, Naples, Italy.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-030-19875-6_14"},{"key":"ref_9","unstructured":"Groh, F. (2019, July 02). Gamification: State of the Art Definition and Utilization. Available online: http:\/\/hubscher.org\/roland\/courses\/hf765\/readings\/Groh_2012.pdf."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Pelet, J.E., Pratt, M.A., and Fauvy, S. (2015, January 24\u201328). MOOCs and the integration of social media and curation tools in e-learning. Proceedings of the International Workshop on Learning Technology for Education in Cloud, Maribor, Slovenia.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-319-22629-3_4"},{"key":"ref_11","first-page":"64","article-title":"The future of MOOCs: Adaptive learning or business model?","volume":"12","author":"Daniel","year":"2015","journal-title":"Int. J. Educ. Technol. High. Educ."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"67","DOI":"10.5944\/openpraxis.5.1.42","article-title":"The concept of openness behind c and x-MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses)","volume":"5","author":"Rodriguez","year":"2013","journal-title":"Open Praxis."},{"key":"ref_13","unstructured":"Ram\u00edrez-Donoso, L., P\u00e9rez-Sanagust\u00edn, M., Neyem, A., and Rojas-Riethmuller, J.S. (2015, January 28\u201330). Promoviendo la colaboraci\u00f3n efectiva en MOOCs a trav\u00e9s de aplicaciones m\u00f3viles. Proceedings of the 2015 CHILEAN Conference on Electrical, Electronics Engineering, Information and Communication Technologies, Santiago, Chile."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1064","DOI":"10.3109\/0142159X.2016.1173661","article-title":"Connectivism: A knowledge learning theory for the digital age?","volume":"38","author":"Goldie","year":"2016","journal-title":"Med. Teach."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"N\u00fa\u00f1ez-Martinez, M., Borr\u00e1s-Gen\u00e9, O., and Fidalgo-Blanco, \u00c1. (2014, January 1\u20133). Social community in MOOCs: Practical implications and outcomes. Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Technological Ecosystems for Enhancing Multiculturality (TEEM), Salamanca, Spain.","DOI":"10.1145\/2669711.2669893"},{"key":"ref_16","first-page":"379","article-title":"Facebook como herramienta educativa en el contexto universitario","volume":"19","year":"2014","journal-title":"Historia y Comunicaci\u00f3n Social."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Deterding, S., Sicart, M., Nacke, L., O\u2019Hara, K., and Dixon, D. (2011, January 7\u201312). Gamification. Using game-design elements in non-gaming contexts. Proceedings of the CHI\u201911 Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems, Vancouver, BC, Canada.","DOI":"10.1145\/1979742.1979575"},{"key":"ref_18","unstructured":"Werbach, K., and Hunter, D. (2015). The Gamification Toolkit: Dynamics, Mechanics, and Components for the Win, Wharton Digital Press."},{"key":"ref_19","unstructured":"Kapp, K.M. (2013). The Gamification of Learning and Instruction, Wiley."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Vaibhav, A., and Gupta, P. (2014, January 19\u201320). Gamification of MOOCs for increasing user engagement. Proceedings of the 2014 IEEE International Conference on MOOC, Innovation and Technology in Education (MITE), Patiala, India.","DOI":"10.1109\/MITE.2014.7020290"},{"key":"ref_21","first-page":"501","article-title":"New challenges for the motivation and learning in engineering education using gamification in MOOC","volume":"32","year":"2016","journal-title":"Int. J. Eng. Educ."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Klemke, R., Eradze, M., and Antonaci, A. (2018). The flipped MOOC: Using gamification and learning analytics in MOOC design\u2014A conceptual approach. Educ. Sci., 8.","DOI":"10.3390\/educsci8010025"},{"key":"ref_23","unstructured":"Huang, W.H.Y., and Soman, D. (2019, July 02). Gamification of Education. Available online: https:\/\/inside.rotman.utoronto.ca\/behaviouraleconomicsinaction\/files\/2013\/09\/GuideGamificationEducationDec2013.pdf."},{"key":"ref_24","unstructured":"Kiryakova, G., Angelova, N., and Yordanova, L. (2014, January 16\u201318). Gamification in education. Proceedings of the 9th International Balkan Education and Science Conference, Edirne, Turkey."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Wang, L., Hu, G., and Zhou, T. (2018). Semantic analysis of learners\u2019 emotional tendencies on online MOOC education. Sustainability, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/su10061921"},{"key":"ref_26","unstructured":"Hansch, A., Newman, C., and Schildhauer, T. (2019, July 02). Fostering Engagement with Gamification: Review of Current Practices on Online Learning Platforms. Available online: https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2694736."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"82","DOI":"10.1016\/j.compedu.2014.01.012","article-title":"An empirical study comparing gamification and social networking on e-learning","volume":"75","year":"2014","journal-title":"Comput. Educ."},{"key":"ref_28","unstructured":"(2019, June 04). Discover New Badges to Recognize Admins and Outstanding Members. Available online: https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/community\/education\/blog\/badges\/."},{"key":"ref_29","unstructured":"(2019, June 04). Telef\u00f3nica Premia la Innovaci\u00f3n Educativa de los MOOCs a Trav\u00e9s de M\u00edriadax. Available online: https:\/\/comunicacionmarketing.es\/actualidad\/24\/01\/2019\/telefonica-premia-la-innovacion-educativa-de-los-moocs-a-traves-de-miriadax\/5389.html."},{"key":"ref_30","unstructured":"(2019, June 27). \u00a1Conoce los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible a Trav\u00e9s del Nuevo MOOC de Mir\u00edadax!. Available online: https:\/\/blogthinkbig.com\/desarrollo-sostenible-miriadax."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Zaphiris, P., and Ioannou, A. (2015). Evolution of the Conversation and Knowledge Acquisition in Social Networks Related to a MOOC Course. Learning and Collaboration Technologies, Springer.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-319-20609-7"},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"P\u00e9rez, A.B., and Borr\u00e1s-Gen\u00e9, O. (2017, January 4\u20136). Uso de Hangouts como recurso educativo en abierto en MOOC. Proceedings of the IV Congreso Internacional sobre Aprendizaje, Innovaci\u00f3n y Competitividad (CINAIC), Zaragoza, Spain.","DOI":"10.26754\/CINAIC.2017.000001_012"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.1111\/j.2044-8279.1982.tb02505.x","article-title":"SEEQ: A Reliable, Valid, and Useful Instrument for Collecting Students\u2019 evaluations of University Teaching","volume":"52","author":"Marsh","year":"1982","journal-title":"Br. J. Educ. Psychol."},{"key":"ref_34","first-page":"9","article-title":"Defining, Managing, and Marketing to Generations, X, Y, and Z","volume":"10","author":"Schroer","year":"2008","journal-title":"IAM"},{"key":"ref_35","first-page":"1","article-title":"Gameful Experience Questionnaire (GAMEFULQUEST): An instrument for measuring the perceived gamefulness of system use","volume":"3","author":"Hamari","year":"2019","journal-title":"User Model. User-Adapt. Interac."},{"key":"ref_36","first-page":"75","article-title":"Gamification in education: A systematic mapping study","volume":"18","author":"Dicheva","year":"2015","journal-title":"Educ. Technol. Soc."}],"container-title":["Informatics"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2227-9709\/6\/3\/28\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T13:10:08Z","timestamp":1760188208000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2227-9709\/6\/3\/28"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2019,7,26]]},"references-count":36,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2019,9]]}},"alternative-id":["informatics6030028"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/informatics6030028","relation":{},"ISSN":["2227-9709"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2227-9709","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2019,7,26]]}}}