Designing Digitally
10/03/2018
Organizations need their employees to complete certain compulsory training that may not be too interesting. But, if your learners are bored with the training content, there is no way they can benefit from it. You need to find out ways to keep them engaged. A great way to ensure that your learners are engaged is to try teaching through serious games. Serious games allow you to deliver the same content in an appealing format. The main focus of gamified learning is to encourage the learner to play an active role.
Here are six things that make learning with serious games so engaging.
Just like a good play or movie, a good gamified module must have a gripping plot. You need to weave the learning concepts seamlessly into the storyline. There must be a balance between fiction and learning concepts. Make sure that the learner identifies with the environment and the characters.
Rules are essential to avoid chaos. Games won’t be fun without stipulated rules. If the learner breaks a rule, they will have to face the penalty. As a result, they will be careful to avoid making the same mistake. This is a great way to make them learn from their missteps. Learners will replicate the positive behavior at their workplace, too.
Games work due to the game mechanics involved. Your serious games should have loads of interactions. The more interactive it is, the more the learners will get involved. If you want them to focus on your learning, you need to keep them busy with tasks within the game.
Let’s face it. Visually appealing things are popular. Your game may have great gameplay and interactivity. But, if it is not visually appealing, chances are that your learners will tune out. Or, if the interface buttons are confusing and hard to use, learners may get frustrated and quit the game. Thoughtfully design the user interface as well as the art assets so they are enticing and cohesive with the theme of the serious game.
Challenge and rewards drive human nature. The trick is to keep the initial challenges easy and increase the level of difficulty as the learner proceeds. That way, the learner can master easy tasks while they learn the dynamics of the gameplay. The tougher the challenge, the greater the rewards involved. Points, badges, and leaderboards boost the learner’s morale. And, if you involve group play where learners compete with their peers, then you have a winning solution at hand. Each learner will aim to outdo the other and in the process, be more invested in the learning.
Game-based learning is a risk-free practice pad. In sectors like aerospace, healthcare, and so on, the cost of making a mistake is very high. Employees cannot practice at their workplace. A gamified learning simulation has no real-world damaging consequences. Learners can make mistakes and learn from them.
At Designing Digitally, Inc. our experts have developed gamified learning for varied sectors and audiences. We are experienced in building customized solutions based on your industry and target audience.
Get in touch with our experts who can create game-based training solutions specific to your requirements.
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