a primer on play: how to use games for learning and results

A Primer on Play

Welcome!

Sharon Boller BLP Prez Game Junkie Lead designer: Knowledge Guru®

Using  Twi)er?      Follow  along:  @thekguru    

We produce a lot of learning games

But we’re here to talk about… Knowledge Guru® game engine: LOTS of different Games!

But we’re here to talk about… Knowledge Guru® game engine: LOTS of different Games!

But we’re here to talk about… Knowledge Guru® game engine: LOTS of different Games!

But we’re here to talk about… Knowledge Guru® game engine: LOTS of different Games!

But we’re here to talk about… Knowledge Guru® game engine: LOTS of different Games!

Our Game Plan

Why games? What problems can

they solve?

Overview of Knowledge Guru®

Play – Learn – Track -

Remember

Game Creation Wizard

walkthrough

Player Reactions &

Business Results

How to get a free trial

A Poll – What’s True for You?

1.  My organization is currently developing and using serious games or learning games.

2.  My organization is evaluating whether serious games/gamification of learning is a good idea.

3.  I just needed a place to hang out during lunch.

What do we even MEAN by game?

An  ac.vity  with  a  defined  goal  or  challenge,  rules  that  guide  achievement  of  the  goal,  interac6vity  with  either  other  players  or  the  game  environment  (or  both),  and  feedback  mechanisms  that  give  clear  cues  as  to  how  well  or  poorly  you  are  performing.  Playing  results  in  a  quan6fiable  outcome  (you  win/you  lose,  you  hit  the  target,  etc).  Usually  generates  an  emo6onal  reac6on  in  players.  

Why do games work?

The short answer?  

Why do games work?

Because they are FUN.

The more detailed answer…. Learning  Element   Game  Elements  that  Match  

Mo.va.on   Game  goals  or  challenges,  conflict,  .me,  coopera.on,  reward  structures    (feedback,  points,  achievements),    -­‐  all  help  equate  to  the  “fun”  in  games.  

Relevant  prac.ce   Game  goal  or  challenges,  rules  within  game,  reward  structures,  game  loops  

Feedback   PreLy  much  a  1:1  here  –  reward  structures  in  game  supply  feedback.  “Game  loop”  also  supplies  feedback  

Retrieval  later   Lots  of  ways  games  help  with  retrieval:  Context,  story,  desire  for  repeat  play,  emo.on  aLached  to  game  play.  

INFO  ON  YOUR  TABLES!!  TAKE  A  SCROLL.  

Reduction in Forgetting Curve

30% in 3 to 6 days’ time

50% in 3 to 6 days’ time

70% in 3 to 6 days’ time

90% (or more) in 3 to 6 days’ time

A.  

B.  

A.  

C  

D.  

Reduction in Forgetting Curve

What the Research Says

Review of meta-analysis studies in Chapter 4. “Games are effective for learning.” Advantages over traditional non-interactive instruction.  

What the Research Says

Case Study: McDonalds Japan

Case Study: McDonalds Japan

Source:  Bloomberg  

Invested $2.2M; created Nintendo DS game for front-line employees. Cut training time in half.

Very cool but… •  How many of you have $2.2M to spend? •  How many of you have game designers on

staff? Scary Stat

Gartner: By 2014, 80% of gamification initiatives will fail.  

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Round 1: Starbucks Game

•  You win. Your neighbors win (people on either side of you).

•  What are the FOUR elements required for learning?

•  Write responses onto index card. Raise your hand when ready. We’ll do our best to spot the first hand up and have you read your response.

Our Game Plan

Why games? What problems can

they solve?

Overview of Knowledge Guru®

Play – Learn – Track -

Remember

Game Creation Wizard

walkthrough

Player Reactions &

Business Results

How to get a free trial

Organizations’ biggest challenges… ü  Product

knowledge ü  Industry facts ü  Policies and

procedures ü  Research data ü  Sales messages  

We wanted…

For people to be able to PLAY.

To LEARN while they play.

To TRACK what’s being learned – and identify what’s not being learned.

For players to REMEMBER.

A game engine that makes it easy to create learning games that get results.

ü  Authoring and publishing tool ü  Web-based solution; we host ü  Powerful game linked to learning science; helps

people build long-term memory

Play ü Game Goal ü Theme ü Story ü Aesthetics ü Competition ü Rewards, achievements

Play Game Goal: Become a Knowledge Guru

Play

Theme & Story -

Fantasy

Play

Theme & Story -

Business

Play

Aesthetics

Play

Competition, Rewards,

Achievements

Play

Competition, Rewards,

Achievements

Play Competition,

Rewards, Achievements

Play

Competition, Rewards,

Achievements

Learn Game TITLE - what you want learner to become a Guru on.

Within each TOPIC, 1 to 5 LEARNING OBJECTIVES that specify what learner should know or do

TOPICS (up to 4); broad categories associated with what people need to know or do.

For each learning objective, at least one QUESTION SET. A question set is 3 questions – each an iteration of the other one.

Learn

Identify and define eight common game elements and recognize their use in games: story, aesthetics, time, levels, competition, cooperation, chance, strategy.

Learn

Learn

Learn

Learn

Learn

Track

Track

Track

Track

Track

Track

LMS Tracking “Power-Up”

Remember

Learning Objective Identify and define eight common game elements and recognize their use in games: story, aesthetics, time, levels, competition, cooperation, chance, strategy.

Remember

Iteration A: This game element involves the use of a narrative thread…” What is it?

Iteration B: “Defeat the Martians and regain control of earth’s manufacturing sites is an example of the use of story in a game. True or False?

Iteration C: Review the quote. Decide what game element it represents. “Martians have invaded….”

Remember

Iteration A Iteration B Iteration C

One iteration per path. Learners climb all three paths to achieve Topic Mastery.

Remember

•  Space  out  learning  w/  a  distributed  prac.ce  session.  

•  Add  an  addi.onal  repe..on  

Round 2 Starbucks Game We created Guru game because we wanted…

For people to be able to ___________.

To ____________ while they play.

To _________ what’s being learned – and identify what’s not being learned.

For players to ________________.

Our Game Plan

Why games? What problems can

they solve?

Overview of Knowledge Guru®

Play – Learn – Track -

Remember

Game Creation Wizard

walkthrough

Player Reactions &

Business Results

How to get a free trial

Testimonial – Fortune 500 tech company

Rated game 4.93 out of 5 in terms of its value as a learning experience

Players averaged 3.5 hours

of play.  

Testimonial – Fortune 500 tech company

Rated use of repetition 4.93 out of 5 in terms of the value it provided in building long-

term memory.

Testimonial – Fortune 500 tech company

I thought the game was excellent. Great way to study

and reinforce learning. Should be implemented for

each technical module.  

Testimonial – Agriculture Co./Fortune 1000

I played…and found it very interesting and fun. It’s a

powerful education tool Hope it will be available for other

key crops/pests.  

Testimonials – ExactTarget player

The game was great! It was a fun way to learn about

MobileConnect. I enjoyed the scenario-type questions,

which put it all in perspective.

Testimonials – ExactTarget player

I’m a pretty competitive person, so challenging myself to get

one of the top scores added a layer of fun to learning about

the product.    

Testimonials – ExactTarget player

The repetition of the different paths helped me

retain the information.

Business Results

Business Results •  Quicker pipeline built: “Of all the launches done in the

two years previous to the MobileConnect launch, the sales team built one of the quickest pipelines for this product.”

•  Dramatic increase in first-call support resolution. •  Greatly increased contract values.    

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Our Game Plan

Why games? What problems can

they solve? Overview of

Knowledge Guru®

Game Creation Wizard

walkthrough

Player Reactions &

Business Results

How to get a free trial

Game Creation Wizard Most organizations lack the expertise, people resources, or $$ to create meaningful serious games that enable PLAY, LEARN, TRACK, REMEMBER.

Game Creation Wizard

Edit Topics Screen

EDIT OBJECTIVES screen

View Questions Screen

Edit Questions

Preview Questions

Export Questions

Make Game ‘Live’

Power-Ups Customized

Gurus, branding

Instructional design help

Customized registration

fields

Instructional design help LMS data

import

The Game Creation Wizard lets you create games based on these three research-based ways of building long-term memory. They are: R_______________ D____________ Practice or Spaced Learning F______________

Get Your Own Game On

Why games? What problems can

they solve? Overview of

Knowledge Guru®

Game Creation Wizard

walkthrough

Player Reactions &

Business Results

How to get a free trial

http://theknowledgeguru.com/free-trial $100 off with promo code SHOWGURU1

Thanks for playing! Reach us at

•  Twitter: @thekguru •  guru@theknowledgeguru.com •  317-861-7326

http://theknowledgeguru.com/free-trial

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