this isn't exactly new. Schools and educators have tried to pour whatever their institutional goals were into "fun games" for their flock. It usually doesn't work very well, as a game that's made with the intent to "teach" isn't made with the intent to provide "fun".

Add to that that "fun" is not inherent in the game; it's something people have to HAVE with the game, and that depends on how they approach it. You know all these grind games that, after a while, just are 90% work to get to the part you still think is fun? Any complex game, really, is work is you don't approach it as diversion. I have a hundred board games that require taking a rules class to play them. Still fun. But others will consider this work.

This is the problem with gamification. a) it's made with another goal in mind then to entertain, entertainment is supposed to be a trick to get you there and b) people aren't as dumb as PR people, journalists, and administrators (of schools and otherwise) think them to be, and see through that rather quickly. In which case the game becomes a tiresome chore.

But a real tiresome chore is, at least, honest about being that. When the chore dresses up as a game, on top of it all, you fell like you're being had.

Let chores be chores, and let games be games.