Game On: Revolutionizing Professional Development with Game-Based Learning
Our children play them, our friends play them, and sometimes we play them ourselves. Online games are ubiquitous. At first glance, video games may seem like a distraction from more practical and important tasks in the workplace. But, with the right approach, incorporating game-based learning in corporate and industrial settings can not only captivate employees, but can also serve as a vehicle for valuable training opportunities.
Why Introduce Games into your Training?
Even simple gaming elements draw learners into the content and help immerse them in the learning experience. Think of language learning apps like Duolingo that reward users with badges for completing microlessons. Using more complex game mechanics can increase motivation with a point system, competition against co-workers, and the feeling of mastery experienced when users learn something new, that they can apply to their role.
Competition and reward motivate learners
Game-based learning motivates learners with competition, a feeling of progression, and achievement. Game mechanics also reinforce the lesson that failure is not a setback and nor is it an outcome, but rather indicates that the user needs to learn more to master the skill or knowledge at hand.
Teaching through trial, failure, repetition, and completion of goals is what game-based learning is really about. Learners apply a gaming mindset to skillfully navigate through levels to solve problems, achieve goals, forming a challenging, engaging, and highly rewarding experience for them.
Game-based learning encourages teamwork and collaboration
Collaboration skills have always been sought after in employees, and with so many businesses now operating remotely, or as hybrid environments, it’s never been more important. Game-based learning helps to promote teamwork within and between departments. Collaborative games can help employees learn how to interact more effectively as they work towards a common goal.
Game-based training is efficient and cost-effective
Gaming systems are scalable, require little maintenance, and can be updated according to changing industry standards or as learning material changes.
Safe simulations in a risk-free environment
We’ve all heard the adage about learning: Tell me and I forget; teach me and I may remember; involve me and I learn. It’s a saying that persists because it’s true! Providing learners with an opportunity to put into practice a skill they have learned helps to cement learning.
In businesses where safety is a concern, game-based learning offers the chance to practice in a risk-free environment. This is a particularly useful feature for pilots, healthcare workers, and machine operators. Using games is a safe and effective way to learn through trial and error.
Remote learning
Games can be played remotely, meaning that like digital learning, learners don’t need to take time away from work or travel to training.
Promotes critical thinking
One of the significant benefits of game-based learning is that it promotes critical thinking. Games often require players to think critically and solve problems to advance to the next level. These problem-solving skills can transfer to real-life situations, helping players become better critical thinkers.
In game-based learning, learners are presented with challenges and problems that require them to analyze, evaluate, and make decisions based on the available information. Players are given immediate feedback on their actions, allowing them to learn from their mistakes and improve their critical thinking skills. This feedback can help employees understand how to make better decisions in the future and develop strategies to solve problems more effectively.
Games are fun and suitable for every level
As most of our kids would attest, video games and apps - like these created by Red T Media - are mentally stimulating, addictively engaging, and above all, genuinely enjoyable! Fun may not be the number one priority in corporate and industrial training, but that doesn’t mean it can’t still be an important consideration! Games aren’t just for those who are new to an industry, either. Seasoned professionals can use them to upgrade their skills or polish up previous experience.
What is Game-based Learning?
In game-based learning, the focus is on teaching specific skills or behaviours. For example, serious games can be used to teach customer service employees to de-escalate tough conversations with unhappy customers. Serious games used in game-based learning are immediately effective in identifying gaps in skills and knowledge and allowing learners to make adjustments and try again.
Successful game-based learning begins like any effective learning design, with objectives and outcomes that will guide your game design and development.
Who’s using game-based learning?
Universities, colleges and schools have recognized the benefits of game-based learning and using elements of gaming in their lessons. Recently, Enable Education partnered with RISC – The Center for Radical Innovation for Social Change at the University of Chicago – to create a Data Science game called Algo-Rhythm.
Many businesses have also begun to recognize the value in using game-based learning in their training strategies. Enable also partnered with Second Harvest – a food rescue organization - to create a game about preventing food waste.
SDN Pros collaborated with Enable to create a game-based learning solution for Arista’s network architects. The game, Cloud Wars, is an interactive space for learners to practice what they have learned in an interactive, game-based space. The aim is to elicit stronger knowledge retention by making the learning fun and engaging.
Game-based Learning Examples
Serious games can take many forms but some of the more common types are quizzes, polls, simulations, and digital games.
Quizzes and polls
Quizzes and polls are one of the easiest ways to introduce game-based learning into your training solutions. They are useful tools for helping to memorize and recall facts, assessing knowledge, and increasing interaction and engagement with the learning. Sidekick – a Learning Engagement Platform – incorporates interactive features, including quizzes, to obtain feedback from users and provide interactive touch points during live training sessions.
Polling allows learners to engage with their instructor and provide feedback on content covered. Instructors can capture and compare the answers of participants and assess the learners’ understanding. While the level of interactivity offered by polls, and quizzes, may be minimal, it does provide a break from talking and listening.
Simulations
Simulation games are used in training to impart knowledge and skills using an application that resembles work-related environments and situations. Industries that commonly use simulations for training include aviation, healthcare, and mining.
Digital games
This type of serious game is used to simulate real-life situations for training learners in a risk-free environment. It provides virtual hands-on experience that boosts learners’ confidence and improves situational decision-making.
It’s important to note that game-based learning isn’t designed to replace hands-on experience, nor should it be provided in lieu of some sort of expert facilitation, but it can serve as a valuable supplement to both. It’s also not necessarily a solitary activity. As is the case with many online games, the social potential of serious games can help learners discover how to work together more effectively, and can serve as a team-building exercise.
Ready to bring serious games to your learners? Contact us now - we have some ideas!