Javier Velasquez
GamiCon 2019 Throwdown Winner of Award forÂ
Best Overall Use of Gamification in Adult Learning
Javier Velasquez studied Literature and a Master's in Literature at Universidad de los Andes in Colombia. His professional studies helped him understand how to analyze media in a systemic way, as his main concerns were interdisciplinary studies. Since 2012, he shifted towards game design and founded a board game publisher, Azahar Games. In 2013, he assisted the GSummit started doing research on game design and gamification. Alongside his sister, Ana MarĂa Velasquez, a PhD in Human Development and Motivation, they started working on a Gamification framework (BEM) that used the idea of feedback and intrinsic motivation a its core. This framework has been validated in different fields, like innovation, human resources, loyalty campaigns, and especially in education, which is a big part of their intrinsic motivation. Javier sees Gamification not as a tool of design but as a field with paradigms and objects of study that go beyond the use of standardized mechanics.
100 Victory Points for Designing Great Point Systems that Teach!
This session challenges the way most people think about points in gamified learning. Led by Javier Velasquez, it goes beyond âpoints as rewardsâ to examine how different types of points carry different psychological meaning and influence learner behavior in very specific ways.
Drawing on analysis from a wide range of games, Javier introduces a practical classification of point types and shows how to design point systems that actually teach, guide decisions, and reinforce learning rather than distract from it. Participants will leave with a clearer framework for using points intentionally, so they support motivation, progress, and understanding instead of becoming empty numbers on a screen.
Takeaway: Points only work when they are designed to teach, not just to tally.
