November 3, 2020

Game-Based Learning

8 Effective Approaches To Gamify Your VILT Programs And Drive Remote Learner Engagement

What Are The Challenges Trainers Face With Existing VILT Courses

Many existing VILT courses are being modeled on legacy classroom-based ILT materials. If they were “straight-ported” from ILT to VILT mode, they are likely to lack the elements of virtual interaction and engagement that remote learners expect.

Here are some of the challenges that must be addressed before you transition from your ILT to engaging VILT programs:

The platform
The platform you choose to host/deliver your virtual training can either make the program an unqualified success or a resounding failure. Some existing platforms limit the scope and delivery of higher-quality virtual training. Selecting the right platform requires working with a cross-sectional team of vendors, IT experts, trainers, and representative virtual learners.
The technology
Virtual Instructor-Led Training is more technology-dependent than classroom-based learning. Unfortunately, the underlying technology, which supports many current VILT platforms, may also prove to be a roadblock to the successful delivery of virtual training. Non-tech savvy learners and instructors, lack of vendor support, and outdated infrastructure, all collude to defeat the stated objectives of well-intended virtual instructor-led learning programs.
The size and scope
One common challenge with existing VILT initiatives is the size of learning audiences and the scope of the training. Too big an audience (hundreds of simultaneous learners) and too broad a scope (dozens of modules, each with 20 or 30 lengthy lessons, scores of assignments, hundreds of quizzes, and tests) tend to diminish the engagement and effectiveness of today’s VILT.
The focus
Many topics for VILT might not be appropriate for such learning. For instance, where modified behavior—as a result of training—must be observed and validated to certify success, VILT is not as conducive as in-person training. Such training must, therefore, be recalibrated and refocused to make the topics VILT-friendly.

Existing VILT programs that lack these aspects just don’t cut it anymore. These models don’t work to sufficiently challenge and engage learners any longer.

Today’s VILT environment requires a different level of interactivity—the type that gamification delivers as it drives high remote learner engagement.

What Are The Benefits Of Using Gamifying VILT Programs?

Detractors of gamification-based learning hold that this approach (playing while learning) adds a distractive element to a serious activity (learning by playing).

However, when implemented well, gamified VILT delivers many benefits, both for learners and the organization, including:

Enhanced learner-instructor interaction
Better learner engagement
Stronger team building outcomes
Higher levels of employee motivation, thanks to almost instantaneous feedback
Improved knowledge transfer, retention, and recall

For learners, this translates to a better learning environment. For organizations, this translates to more cost-effective, scalable, and effective learning delivery [1].

What Are The Approaches In Order To Gamify Your VILT Programs And Drive Remote Learner Engagement?

Here are 8 approaches to drive learner engagement through the results-based gamification of VILT that would step up the learner engagement quotient:

1. Understand Your Learners And Their Environment

Questions to address include what is the learners' current knowledge level, what motivates them to learn, what issues they are trying to resolve, the technology and tools they now have, and how they will demonstrate “success” to you. These cues will help you identify what elements you should use to gamify your VILT session.

2. Recognize That The Overwhelmed Learners Won’t Learn

Deliver learning as microlearning modules [2]; design content that’s “roomy” and “spacious,” not cluttered and densely packed, and schedule time-outs for interactivity.

3. Monotony Drives Disengagement

Most existing VILT comprises text or audio content. Hours of voice-only learning or module after module of text-based slides can be monotonous.

Consider including periodic (every 5 to 10 minutes) gamified activities in your sessions, such as scavenger hunts, polling questions, and pop-up chatbots to reduce monotony.
Leverage mixed-mode content (video, audio, virtual tours, simulations) that also fuels learner engagement.

4. Give Learners Control

One way to do that is to use branching scenarios so that learners chart their own learning journey. Use a choice-challenge-consequence model to facilitate learner decision-making on how they decide to branch out.

5. Gamify Around Themes, Stories, Case Studies, Characters

Create continuity and build anticipation and excitement by advancing the learning “plot” one lesson/module at a time.

Ensure that each gaming interaction (level, round, segment) brings learners closer to the endgame and will keep VILT audiences engaged and coming back for more.
Above all, relate the gaming action preferably to their real-world situations.

6. Time Your Gamified Interactivity

Set a sense of urgency for learner interactions (e.g., “Find the missing link in 1 minute,” “Identify what’s wrong and outline how to fix it in 3 minutes.”).

7. Motivate And Engage The Learners Through Rewards

Use leaderboards and reward winners with more points, badges, certificates, or marks, but others who may not finish before the clock runs out should also receive (fewer) rewards.

8. Be Prompt With Feedback

Design gaming activities to deliver feedback—both corrective as well as encouragement—promptly. This ensures that the learners can assimilate it into their next actions.

If you want to deliver a more interactive, collaborative, and engaging experience to your corporate VILT participants, a great way to do that is by embracing gamification.

Adding elements such as leaderboards, badges, points, simulation, branching, and scenario-based learning will transform traditional classroom-based learning, from which most of today’s virtual training evolved, into a highly engaging, results-based learning experience for your audience.

I hope my article gives you cues you can use to gamify your VILT programs and see learner motivation, engagement, and interactions soar.

Meanwhile, if you have any specific queries, do contact me or leave a comment below.

References:

[1] Training Delivery

[2] How to Drive Employee Performance with Microlearning

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