Game-Based Learning For Increased Learner Engagement: How To Convince Top Management To Get Going With GBL
Game-based learning has emerged as a highly effective method to impart practical knowledge among your employees. The reason for its success is manifold. Using attractive graphics and immersive gameplay, it engages learners like nothing else. It makes them active participants in the learning process instead of just conveying information passively. Above everything else, learning through game-based content is fun and effortless, which really sits well with today’s millennial employees who have lower attention spans for mundane content.
Despite these favorable reviews, companies are still reluctant about using game-based learning for their digital training programs. The fact remains that using games for organizational knowledge is often misconstrued as being too casual to convey a rather serious subject matter. Many people also think that developing a good-quality game can prove to be a costly and time-consuming affair, further deterring them from using this powerful methodology.
In this article, I will attempt to dispel the wrong notions people have about game-based content, while also shedding some light on how to develop an appropriate game to flawlessly convey your content to the audience. Use these pointers to convince your top management of the efficacy of game-based learning.
Concern: Game-Based Learning Is A Costly Affair
Reality: It Is Not So Costly After All
Many organizations view game development as a costly and intensive affair that can substantially disturb the budget of your eLearning program. But this is far from being true. Technology has advanced so much today that game development doesn’t have to be done right from scratch, due to the availability of low cost software.
You can even purchase pre-built game templates and customize them according to your needs and content. A reputed custom eLearning solutions provider will be able to help you use game-based learning effectively for your training needs.
Concern: Game-Based Learning Can Only Teach Motor Skills
Reality: It Can Be Used To Cover A Wide Range Of Subjects
The general idea about games is that they help improve the hand-eye coordination of the player, thereby improving motor skills. This creates a major doubt for businesses regarding the application of game-based content for their subject matter. However, this is not the case.
Games can be used for a variety of training purposes, depending on the way they are created. Character games work well for soft skill or Sales training, where learners need to respond to situations or take decisions; simulation-based games work for software training. Puzzle-based games can be used to improve information recall and test knowledge.
Concern: Game-Based Learning Is Not Suitable For Adults, It’s A Mere Distraction
Reality: It Is Suitable For Adult Learners
Does all fun and no work make Jack a dull employee? There is a common misconception that since games are fun, they can distract learners from work. But, it is not so as carefully designed games actually help promote problem-solving abilities in adults. Games cater to the various styles in which adults learn such as visual, auditory, and kinesthetic.
The scoring system, progress bar, and other gaming elements appeal to the most basic adult spirit of being competitive. Hence games motivate employees to do better, and take the learning content quite seriously.
3 Tips To Create Effective Game-Based Training
So, how we design games that actually hold true to the learning expectations? Below are some guidelines that you can follow to create a game that adheres to your training standards:
1. Offer Instant Feedback
Games require users to take quick decisions based on whatever challenge the game presents. It is also important for games to offer players immediate feedback on the appropriateness of their decision. This doesn’t have to be a binary response of right or wrong, but instead it should explain why they are wrong along with some consequence on their gaming avatars.
2. Make It Challenging
There is no doubt that games present a challenge to the learner but the level of difficulty has to gradually increase when playing the game. In the initial stages, the learner needs to get used to playing the game but after this, he needs to be presented with challenges that improve his subject matter knowledge.
3. Provide Second Chances
A gaming environment should give learners a chance to make mistakes, experience the consequences, and repeat the process again. This means that a bad score in a quiz should not stop all chances of the learner trying again. This way, the game will inspire players to learn from their mistakes and not stop till they have perfected the task at hand.
Final Word
If done rightly, game-based learning is the next exciting thing in the realm of digital learning. It gives Instructional Designers a unique opportunity to infuse creativity with impactful learning. So if still skeptical about using game-based learning, don’t be. Hire an experienced eLearning vendor to create an immersive and out-of-the-box game for your learning program.
