According to research, the advantages of game-based learning include an increased level of engagement and motivation, improved learning outcomes, and the ability to track learner progress and adapt the learning experience accordingly. By following best practices and designing game-based learning experiences with clear learning objectives, competition, feedback, and social learning, trainers and consultants can create effective and engaging learning experiences for learners.

Get a real learning outcome

I’m a learning designer and CEO of Actee. At Actee we have been building a learning game platform for our training and consultant network. The Actee learning game platform includes +120 games, 60 theories to choose from when you build games and the option to create games on one of our 5 games boards or 5 additional tools to drive the facilitation process. We consider our business a success because of the 100 countries playing on our platform every month. Besides our global outreach, we have +400 games built per year by clients supporting specific needs from clients but unfortunately, only a few games are actually published for public use. Unfortunately!

One of the reasons might be the weak knowledge we seem to have about the learning outcome and value created by the use of games.

Therefore, I have made this blog about the research on results created with games over the last few years. I hope they might convince you to use games as part of your training toolbox.     

Learning through games is becoming an increasingly popular method for workplace training and development. According to Dupret (2021), the use of game-based learning is a promising approach that offers a unique opportunity to engage learners in a fun and interactive way while fostering learning. Moreover, as Bristol-Faulhammer and Koudela (2021) note, the advantages of game-based learning include an increased level of engagement and motivation, improved learning outcomes, and the ability to track learner progress and adapt the learning experience accordingly. To sum this up, motivation and improving learning outcome is some of the value pool you might experience as a trainer or consultant adding games to your design.

To create learning results using games, there are a few key best practices to keep in mind.

First, it's important to set clear learning objectives (Dupret, 2021). What do you want your learners to learn, and what behaviours or skills do you want them to develop? By setting clear learning objectives, you can ensure that the game is aligned with your learning goals.

Second, it's crucial to choose the right game (Dupret, 2021). Not all games are suitable for learning. The game you choose should be relevant to the learning objectives and context, and it should provide opportunities for learners to practice and apply the new knowledge or skills they are acquiring.

Here the game-building process becomes relevant and important.

Feedback and Dialogue

Third, it's important to make the game engaging and enjoyable (Bristol-Faulhammer & Koudela, 2021). This means incorporating elements of competition, challenge, and feedback into the game design. Learners should feel motivated to succeed and rewarded for their achievements.

Fourth, social learning can be a key component of game-based learning (Bristol-Faulhammer & Koudela, 2021). This can be achieved through multiplayer games or by incorporating social features, such as leaderboards or discussion forums. In our games, we have created different ways to play Actee to ensure that social learning is achieved in the most optimal, chosen by the learning designer.  

Fifth, providing feedback is an essential component of any game-based learning experience (Dupret, 2021). Learners should receive immediate feedback on their performance, both to reinforce positive behaviours and to correct errors. Feedback should be specific, actionable, and relevant to the learning objectives.

Demand Data

Finally, tracking learner progress and providing analytics is crucial (Bristol-Faulhammer & Koudela, 2021). This can help you to identify areas where learners are struggling and adapt the game design to address these issues. Analytics can also provide insights into the effectiveness of the game-based learning experience as a whole.

In conclusion, game-based learning can be a highly effective way to engage learners and achieve learning objectives. However, as the Harvard Business Review article by Bohnert and Thomas (2023) emphasizes, it's important to design game-based learning experiences with clear learning objectives in mind and to incorporate elements of competition, feedback, and social learning. By following these best practices, you can create a game-based learning experience that is both engaging and effective.

The Takeaway

Game-based learning has become a popular method for workplace training and development, providing an engaging and interactive learning experience for learners. To create learning results using games, it's important to set clear learning objectives, choose the right game, make the game engaging and enjoyable, incorporate social learning, provide feedback, and track learner progress. According to research, the advantages of game-based learning include an increased level of engagement and motivation, improved learning outcomes, and the ability to track learner progress and adapt the learning experience accordingly. By following best practices and designing game-based learning experiences with clear learning objectives, competition, feedback, and social learning, trainers and consultants can create effective and engaging learning experiences for learners.

References

Dupret K. (2021) The Promise of Learning Through Gaming at Work. In: Elkjaer B., LotzM.M., Mossfeldt Nickelsen N.C. (eds) Current Practices in Workplace and Organizational Learning. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85060-9_7

Article by Michaela Bristol-Faulhammer, PhD Christian Koudela, MA, MSc, MBA

SMART Learning Academy www.smart-learning.academy

Article: Digital workplace learning in times of remote work and social distancing

Article By Christian Gossan (2023)

A version of this article appeared in the March–April 2023 issue of Harvard Business Review.

https://hbr.org/2023/03/does-gamified-training-get-results