Gamification in training

What is Gamification and how it impacts learning and performance?

Training & Development departments always seeking new ways to add entertainment components to learning activities. Game-based learning is one of the significant training trends adopted by organizations.

Gamification is the application of gaming designs and concepts to training scenarios or work problems in order to explain concepts better and make learning more engaging and entertaining for learners. In game-based learning events, learners compete directly against one or more individuals or form groups to create an interactive experience that rewards learning performance.

The usage of gaming techniques in learning ignites the spirit of competition, makes learning more enjoyable, increases retention, simplifies complex concepts and boosts learner performance. Adding elements of gaming into the instructional learning strategy will increase participation, motivate learners and reduce the drop out of participants. Gamification can create an environment that mimics elements of the workspace which can help learners understand the concepts better when they are presented in the form of a game.

How a workplace situation can be related to a game?

Games need to be strategically placed in order to balance the engaging elements with the learning objectives. Adding a game as an activity to a training course can sometimes be a distraction rather than something that helps learners engage with the course in a meaningful way.

The game elements should be logically connected to the learning objectives. Below are some of the examples where organizations can connect their workplace activities with games to work effectively:

1)   Restaurants can convert the cooking and serving process into a game:

A Restaurant having many items on the menu will have to make the new employees to work at great speeds to quickly make available the different items ordered from the menu. The cooking and serving process can be converted into a game with points, achievements and levels to make it a funny and long lasting experience.

2)   The importance of coordination of activities between different departments in an automobile company can be displayed through a game:

Games can best display the importance of coordination and team cohesiveness between different departments in an automobile industry or any organization for the smooth functioning of the process to accomplish the set goals. The effect of coordination between each department on organizational success can be displayed through a game by showing the loss and profits incurred by the organization as a result of team cohesiveness.