How can you avoid pitfalls when using gamification in training?

In the bid of making learning objectives a lively and engaging one the use of gamification becomes a necessity. However, the relevance of this should not be abused by unrelated contents and thoughts. The learners should be able to find gamification relevance and relatable to their learning objectives in order to shape their thought, reinforce their learning skills and improve their problem solving skills.

The activities in your training should be simple and mapped to clear learning objectives. Example - Activity to help disperse knowledge Watch the video. Share 3 takeaways. Diverse views gathered makes for an engaged crowd who has got smarter without the trainer having to spell out technicalities. - Activity to help retain knowledge Each person shares one thing that stuck with them through the training. Makes for a great way to summarise without the trainer having to say much. - Activity to get participants focussed after a break Fold the Modular Origami Star. Folding paper, relaxes. The model coming together brings cheer. Mission accomplished.

To avoid pitfalls when using gamification in training, it's essential to ensure alignment between the game elements and the learning objectives, maintaining a balance between fun and educational content. Design clear instructions and rules to prevent confusion and frustration among participants. Avoid excessive complexity or competition that may discourage collaboration or disengage learners. Regularly evaluate the effectiveness of gamified activities and be prepared to adjust based on feedback and outcomes. Additionally, consider the diversity of learners and their preferences to create inclusive and engaging experiences.

During the training needs analysis, a survey with the types of games listed can give you a list of potential gamification trends they would like to have, and you can sprinkle in a variety of the top 3-5 choices of participants. Afterwards, send out another survey to see learners' reaction and study the analytics of the scores for frequently missed questions, etc. and adjust your training depending on the gaps. I like to make customized training depending on their level within the organization to make it more relevant.

The level of the audience is also age and course content specific. When using gamification in education, the gamification needs to be more cartoon and animation driven, while on the other hand while using gamification for a serious course for doctors and nurses, sophisticated VR/AR simulation work like a charm where scenarios need to be replicated to the T.

Testing is a very crucial aspect to also test the level of complexity of the gamification. Overly simple gamification loses the interest of the learner and so does overly complex gamification. The gamification has to be just right as per the target audiences level and this can only be verified through testing and refining.

testing is the keys for a effective game based learning. i understand that we are excited to run our games, but a poor execution is a double edge sword. I usually test my games with AI. First reason is because they are smart enough to breaks your design. thats where we can apply refinement. 2nd choice is with your colleague or partners. 3rd choice is with community. look for game based learning trainer group and invite them for a session. Testing is more than important than you think, if you want to ensure the objective is achieved

Indeeed, ive seen complicated game meant to make learner life difficult. i understand the points of the complexity, more challenge, more personalised, more strategies. at the end, you only have about 1 to 2 hours per game. we want the, to learn the game in the first 20mins and they play for the rest. if a game is to complex, until the end they are still learning the game. no result yet. apply lean process in your game, sometimes the most interesting thing you think you had applied is the most irrelevance stuff. review your design and see if you can make it leaner but still driving the same result

I’ve learned the importance of clarity in every instruction and game mechanics. My experience in facilitating gamified activities has taught me that participants can be highly competitive, there will be times that they may scrutinize even the smallest details, or the technicalities of the terms used in the instructions. Be prepared for this; it signifies their deep engagement and desire to win. However, exercise caution when addressing those who don’t win. Avoid labeling them as ‘losers,’ as it could dishearten them and may cause low motivation towards the rest of the training session. In our team, it really works whenever we have a technical practice or run through of these activities so we can also anticipate any potential issues.

Every game immediately has a winner and loser and it is therefore very essential to tread the gamification path carefully so that no learner feels disheartened or left out. One of the ways to do this to ensure that the gamification element has collaboration embedded in it where everyone feels included and part of a bigger picture as well.

when running games, have these in mind: 1. play with purpose not for fun 2. learner experience is your priority 3. reward them (win or lose) 4. if there is point system, make sure it is competitive and it is easy to overtakes other 5. breakdown your instruction to at least 5 part (objective, rules, before start, repeat, summarise) 6. give rooms for question 7. allow them to strategise and talk