Gamification LMS: 7 Benefits For Your Online Training Program
The definition of gamification is "applying game design in non-game scenarios". At its most basic level, this may involve the development of digital games that have a corporate focus. These include simulations, Virtual Reality, and role-playing set-ups. On another level, it’s about tabulating wins and losses via scoreboard icons and unlocked levels. How does this help? Can you use a gamification LMS to motivate, inspire, and engage your remote workforce? Last, but not least, is a new Learning Management System with game mechanics built-in really worth the investment?
1. It Motivates Your Team
The most common form of gamification is simulated tasks. There are other ways too, for example, staffers can gain points/badges for punctuality, or for killer presentations. Leaderboards can track in-game scores, but they can also incorporate client feedback. If a salesperson or customer care team member got a good customer review, they shoot up the scoreboard, or the board can be used to evaluate individual sales numbers. All these methods should be applied in a healthy way, though. You want friendly one-up-man-ship, not corporate sabotage. The last thing you need is to create a cutthroat training culture that turns employees into rivals.
2. It Offers Instant Results
This doesn’t mean the training program works right away. But unlike other assessment modes, you see the consequences of your (in)action immediately. Say you’re playing an exploratory game in the gamification LMS. If you open the wrong door, you’ll know right away. And while you may not have a quick-fix, you’ll gain a clearer understanding of cause and effect. Since gamification is goal-oriented, especially in a corporate set-up, this real-time feedback becomes a powerful training tool. It works—almost subliminally—because your employee training participants are having fun as they learn.
3. It Changes Employee Behavior
What if an employee’s training performance forces them to miss out on the coveted badge? What if they are unable to achieve the minimum amount of points to reach the last level? The simple answer is that they’re unlikely to do the same thing on your next ‘play-through’. They literally learn from their mistakes and avoid repeating them in the workplace. The nature of eLearning gamification is to repeat the exercise as often as you need to. So, you can keep playing until you perfect the skill you’re trying to develop. Gamification allows you to spot your own flaws and errors in safe gaming space.
4. It’s A Productivity Boost
This may seem strange because if anything, game rewards seem as being built to distract. Who hasn’t lost hours playing the latest level of their favorite mobile game, or trying to score enough points to rank #1 on the leaderboard? And yet, we sometimes use these experiences to pass idle moments. If we really think about it, we often feel refreshed after a few rounds. Playing a quick game on your phone can jog your memory. Why not turn that micro-distraction into a teaching moment? Instead of killing time on puzzles, invite your employees to log in to the gamification LMS. They can blow off some steam as they advance through the levels and brush up on their skills.
5. It Has Deeper Levels Of Engagement
Many employers worry about their LMS and training modules. In many offices, the LMS lies idle because nobody wants to use it. It’s dull and boring, so they’d rather text on WhatsApp than use the intranet memo function. With a gamification LMS, the process is more entertaining, so it’s more likely to draw active use. As opposed to standalone serious games, the game mechanics are built-in to virtually every aspect of training. So, they won’t simply log into a particular gaming zone. Instead, they’re likely to access various activities multiple times a day to get the information they need.
6. It Boosts Creativity
Having an LMS that lets you design your own gamification elements pushes the envelope. Your L&D has to come up with increasingly imaginative ways to craft serious play. Some are more obvious, like creating a scavenger hunt for safety compliance, but crafting a level that teaches staff how to write a report, that will really test their limits. Or aligning badges with work-related skills to improve performance. And it’s these exercises in innovation which keep work challenging. This type of positive push helps retention because staffers don’t get bored.
7. It Enhances Communication Skills
Think of the stereotypical video-gamer. They sit in front of their consoles, toggling their joysticks and yelling into headsets. Sometimes, it’s just shouting and angst. Other times, it’s strategic decision-making by gaming teams. This element can be incorporated into your gamification Learning Management System strategy. During actual training sessions, employees can interact with each other and discuss their technique, or offer tips on how to achieve points by improving their task performance during simulations.
A gamification Learning Management System isn’t just a tool to appease modern generations and fuel their extrinsic motivation. It’s a fun, immersive plot to ‘trick’ corporates into learning, without resorting to sub-service tactics, of course. They’re having fun, but they’re working towards a tangible task. That’s what distinguishes it from leisure gaming. So, what does it do for organizations? It uses motivation and instant results to change behavior. It boosts creativity, productivity, and engagement. It teaches your staff to communicate better and helps with both knowledge transfer and retention. Also, it lets your team mingle play with work.
Have you ever wondered if the advantages of gamification can be applied to online training? Read our eBook Beyond Badges: How To Use A Gamification LMS To Retain Your Top Talent And Boost ROI and find out the surprising perks of investing in a gamification LMS.
