Invited Talk 1
Leveling Up Learning: Harnessing Gamification and Personalization for Educational Success
Ts. Dr. Aslina Baharum
Associate Professor,
School of Engineering and Technology, Sunway University, Malaysia
Ts. Dr. Aslina Baharum holds the esteemed position of Associate Professor and Programme Leader of Department of Computing and Information Systems (DCIS) Postgraduate at the School of Engineering and Technology, Sunway University. Previously, she has served as a Senior Lecture at the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences in Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), and as a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Computing and Informatics in Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), where she led the User Experience (UX) research group. Completing her academic journey, she also brings valuable industry experiences as a former Information Technology (IT) Officer at the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM). She had experienced more than 20 years in the IT field.
She earned her PhD in Visual Informatics from UKM, a Master Science degree in IT from UiTM, and Bachelor of Science (Hons.) in E-Commerce from UMS. Dr. Aslina is an active member of the Young Scientists Network - Academy of Science Malaysia, a Senior Member IEEE, and a certified Professional Technologist recognized by MBOT. She has further contributed to the field by serving as an auditor for MBOT/MQA.
She has received medals at research and innovation showcases and has been honored with awards for her teaching, excellence in service, and outstanding contributions as a re-searcher. Her bibliography showcases her prolific output, including co-authored and co-edited books, over 20 book chapters, technical papers presented at conferences, and more than 60 peer-reviewed and indexed journals publications. She has also taken on editorial roles for several journals and actively participated as a committee member, session chair, and part of editorial board/ teams while actively participating as a reviewer. Dr. Aslina has graced numerous conferences with her wisdom, delivering keynote, invited and plenary talks.
Her research interests span a wide spectrum, encompassing UX/UI, HCI/Interaction Design, Product & Service Design, Software Engineering & Mobile Development, Information Visualization & Analytics, Multimedia, ICT, IS and Entre/Technopreneurship. Dr. Aslina’s expertise extends beyond the academic realm; she imparts her knowledge through work-shops and talks on various subjects, including UI/UX, Entrepreneurship, Video/Image Edit-ing, E-Commerce/Digital Marketing, STEM, Design Thinking and etc.
Furthermore, she is certified as a Professional Entrepreneurial Educator, Executive Entrepreneurial Leader, and HRDF Professional Trainer, which highlights her strong commit-ment to education and entrepreneurship. Dr. Aslina is highly regard in her field, dedicated and consistently pushing the boundaries of knowledge and sharing her wealth of expertise with others.
Abstract of Ts. Dr. Baharum's Invited Talk
In today's fast-paced digital world, traditional educational methods are struggling to keep learners engaged and motivated. With decreasing attention spans and the growing competition from interactive digital entertainment, educators face the challenge of making learning captivating and effective. This keynote explores the transformative potential of gamification in addressing these critical issues. Gamification elements—such as points, badges, leaderboards, and quests—can revolutionize the learning experience by making it interactive, engaging, and enjoyable. However, the success of gamified teaching is not solely reliant on these elements. Equally critical is understanding personal traits and how they influence individual responses to gamified content. This talk will highlight the intersection of gamification and user experience (UX) design, emphasizing the importance of personalization. By tailoring gamified experiences to match individual learner profiles, educators can ensure that each student remains motivated and engaged. We will discuss strategies for implementing effective gamified teaching, including the use of adaptive learning paths, balanced game elements, meaningful feedback mechanisms, and user-centric design. Additionally, we will explore the importance of continuous assessment and iteration to keep the learning experience relevant and impactful. This keynote aims to provide insights and practical strategies for educators, technologists, and platform designers from various fields. As we conclude, our hope is to inspire a new wave of educational innovation, where gamification and personalization work hand-in-hand to create dynamic and effective learning environments for a brighter future for all students.