Using game elements to motivate learning

Abstract

Elements of game play are incorporated into a productivity application to assist in motivating users to learn features of the productivity application. For example, the elements of game play that are incorporated into learning features of the productivity application may include items such as usage statistics, scores, levels, challenges, achievements, competition, and the like. A recommendation system assists users in determining what features to learn next. For instance, the recommendations may be based on what features the user has already learned and/or based on what features the user's peers are using. Help content that is associated with the productivity application is also tied to the features that are currently being used by the user.

1 . A method for utilizing game elements within a productivity application, the method executing on a processor of a computer, comprising:
 tracking features being utilized by a user within the application; wherein the application is a productivity application;   calculating a score as the user utilizes the tracked features;   determining recommendations to provide to the user based on the tracked features utilized by the user; wherein the recommendations include new features of the application to learn;   providing the recommendations to the user;   displaying the score;   receiving a selection of one of the provided recommendations; and   providing a training challenge to allow a user to practice the recommended feature that is selected.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein displaying the score comprises displaying a component score for each of the components that determine the score. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising comparing the score to a group of users using the application; wherein the group of users is selected by a user of the application. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising in response to receiving a selection of one of the provided recommendations displaying a picture of where functionality relating to the feature is provided within a menu of the application. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein providing the recommendations to the user is based on features being used by a group of users using the application. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein providing the recommendations comprises incorporating the recommendations into a social networking site display that is associated with the user. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising linking help content that is natively supplied by the application to the training challenge, such that the linked help content is viewable without searching for the linked help content. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the group of users is determined based on other users having a similar usage pattern to the user. 
     
     
         9 . A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for utilizing game elements within a productivity application, the instructions executing on a processor of a computer, comprising:
 tracking features being utilized by a user within the application; wherein the application is a productivity application;   calculating a score as the user utilizes the tracked features;   determining recommendations to provide to the user based on the tracked features utilized by the user; wherein the recommendations include new features of the application to learn;   directly linking help content that is natively supplied by the application to each of the recommendations, such that the linked help content for one of the recommended features is provided to a user without performing a search for the linked help content;   providing the recommendations within a display;   displaying the score;   receiving a selection of one of the provided recommendations;   
     
     
         10 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , further comprising providing a training challenge to allow a user to practice the recommended feature that is selected; wherein the training challenge is provided within a third-party supplied expansion that is integrated into the application after deployment of the application. 
     
     
         11 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein displaying the score comprises displaying a component score for each of the components that determine the score and displaying an indicator that shows how the score for each component compares to a group score for the component. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein the group of users for which the score is compared is selected by a user of the application. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 10 , further comprising in response to receiving a selection of one of the provided recommendations displaying a graphic of where functionality relating to the feature is provided within a menu of the application and a graphic of the feature before the feature is applied and a graphic of the feature after the feature is applied. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein providing the recommendations to the user is based on features being used by a group of users using the application that is selected by the user. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein providing the recommendations comprises sending the recommendations to the user through an electronic message. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein the group of users is determined based on other users having a usage pattern that is approximately equal to the user. 
     
     
         17 . A system for utilizing game elements within a productivity application, comprising:
 a processor and a computer-readable medium;   an operating environment stored on the computer-readable medium and executing on the processor;   a network connection;   a productivity application and a feature manager operating on the processor; and configured to perform tasks, comprising:   tracking features being utilized by a user within the application; wherein the application is a productivity application;   calculating a score as the user utilizes the tracked features;   determining recommendations to provide to the user based on the tracked features utilized by the user; wherein the recommendations include new features of the application to learn;   directly linking help content that is natively supplied by the application to each of the recommendations, such that the linked help content for one of the recommended features is provided to a user without performing a search for the linked help content;   providing the recommendations within a display;   displaying the score for the user along with a display showing a component score for each of the components that determine the score and displaying an indicator that shows how the score for each component compares to a group score for the component;   receiving a selection of one of the provided recommendations; and   providing a training challenge to allow a user to practice the recommended feature that is selected.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein providing the training challenge is provided to at least one other user to create a head-to-head competition between at least two users. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein providing the recommendations to the user is based on features being used by a group of users using the application that is selected by the user. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein providing the recommendations comprises sending the recommendations to the user through an electronic message and to a social networking site.