Quest-based learning — QBL — is an instructional theory that relies on elements of game design in learning communities to support student choice within the context of a standards-based curriculum.
QBL Focus:
  1. Moving away from a top-down approach to informational acquisition, quest-based learning offers new possibilities for learning and knowledge construction.
  2. Quest-based learning design focuses on an individualized and flexible curricular experience.
  3. In QBL, students can select activities, called quests, rather than assignments in a fixed linear order.
  4. Instead of courses consisting mainly of textbook learning and lectures, classes built around gamification boost student engagement by requiring them to select “quests” and progress at their own pace through a series of educational activities.
  5. In QBL, quests are goal oriented (or task-oriented) searches for something of value that regulate or guide a player/learner through the narrative of the game/course.
  6. Like curricular assignments, quests can contain any combination of text, media, or experience and culminate with a deliverable like a paper, speech, video, project, or other practical artifact.
  7. Since quests are digitally tied to specific standards and/or competencies, digital systems supporting quest-based learning record that progress when completed.
  8. Traditional course content taught through quest-based learning can offer multiple pathways that lead to an equivalent educational outcome.
QBL Key Insights:
  1. Quest-based learning incorporates game mechanics and gamer-like learning communities.
  2. Game-based feedback tools like experience points, progress bars, badges, and achievements are motivating and meaningful to students.
  3. Students in a quest-based course received higher grades overall when compared to the traditional course.
  4. Students do more work on using quest-based learning.
  5. On average, students complete quest-based learning design courses in less time than traditional courses.
  6. Over 65% of students remain persistent in quest-based learning, continuing to quest beyond the minimum required to receive an A.
QBL Resources:
  1. Edmodo: https://spotlight.edmodo.com/product/based-learning-17-qbl-quest-based-learning--390979/
  2. QBL - Changing the Game of Education through Learner Choice:https://spotlight.edmodo.com/product/qbl-changing-the-game-of-education-through-learner-choice--390975/
  3. REZZLY - Heroic Learning - 3D Game Lab:https://spotlight.edmodo.com/product/rizzy-3d-gamelab--390977/
  4. Motivation and Learning - Quest-Based Learning:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41Ld878ZOmY
  5. Blackboard Collaborate Webinar:https://sas.elluminate.com/site/external/jwsdetect/playback.jnlp?psid=2013-04-16.1226.M.63B36E0B16BA81F67FA1113040C493.vcr&sid=253
  6. Edweb Webinar: http://home.edweb.net/quest-based-learning-group-projects/
  7. Gamifying Student Engagement:http://www.edutopia.org/blog/gamifying-student-engagement-matthew-farber