Humans have been playing games for centuries. In fact, some of the earliest instances of gaming tools like dice have been in play since the Ancient Greeks invented them some 3,000 years ago. Today’s gaming might be more common on a screen, but the history of humans has always been intertwined with play as a […]
The idea of gamification often feels way too good to be true. A training method that promises increased engagement and produces learners that actually want to access materials and content? It’s no wonder that organizations are quick to jump on the gamification bandwagon. Unfortunately, poorly-planned gamification almost always falls flat, leaving learners bored and administrators wondering where […]
There’s a reason that 80 percent of the human population sticks to just one language: The time it takes to learn a new language is long, the process is hard, and the maintenance can be tricky. In the past, brushing up on your French meant anything from listening to long audio lessons or taking a […]
The tech world was atwitter in September, when Microsoft announced its takeover of Mojang, the developer responsible for Minecraft. Basically a set of virtual Lego, Minecraft’s charmingly retro design has done the impossible: Turned a generation of kids into veritable engineers with a simple, creative interface. In fact, elementary schools have already adopted Minecraft as […]
It’s not a new story—educators through time have struggled with engaging learners. Today’s instructional designers must find a way to engage eLearners while developing skills or changing behaviors to meet the goals of the training. Learners and designers don’t interact during the learning, so running nails down the chalkboard isn’t an option to wake a […]
“My employees play enough games without me giving them the green light to spend time playing more games on my dime when they should be doing productive work. Why would I encourage this gamification fad?” Is this what you think? Well, who could blame you! The term gamification does imply game playing, and goodness knows […]
PowerPoint presentations, videos and taking notes: Traditional corporate training might be effective, but it’s not like employees are itching to log in their free time. But what if a training module was both effective and enjoyable? Gamification taps into learners’ need for achievement, competition and growth for maximum impact and results. It makes sense that it’s one […]
People vie for recognition because it leads to respect. Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) and badges both signal recognition, but CEUs confirm “butt in seat” time while Open Badges’ digital badges recognize and measure performance. CEUs say, “I showed up,” while Open Badges say, “I participated, learned and earned.” Which would you rather collect? Which is […]
This isn’t Super Mario Brothers, but the motivation might be the same. It turns out that playing to save Princess Peach could teach you a thing or two about game-based training applications. Like your fave video game, gamification within the corporate environment injects a dose of fun and motivation when used in the right way. By setting […]
You’d think that learners would need little incentive to embrace gamification: When compared to other methods, it’s usually more engaging. But, like all training methods, your method is only as effective as your user motivation. Gamifying your course material is one thing, but finding ways to entice your users to actually play is another. Using game mechanics created […]