Gamification is applying \"game mechanics\" or \"game design thinking\" to non-g

Question

Gamification is applying "game mechanics" or "game design thinking" to non-game applications, such as employee training. This is done in an effort to make learning more interesting and competitive. Conduct academic research on typical gamification tactics and the companies that have been using this method to deliver training programs.

Select a gamification tactic for training and explain it in your initial post. Then select a company that is using gamification in training and describe how they are using this method.

Explanation / Answer

Tactic #2. Determine the reward

A good place to start with any gamification campaign is determining the reward.

"The critical part (of a gamification campaign) is to figure out, ‘What is the meaningful reward that I would like to give to people?’" Paharia said.

He continued, "That can be a number of things. It can be dollars, or iPads and golf clubs. It can even be just status in a community."

Here is a short list of possible rewards:

.

Herger’s research has found that good game design trumps prizes in productivity games. You want the participants to continue playing the game. For example, if the game involves an unlock code for the next challenge, provide that code to all players, not just the top performers.

IBM uses a variety of game-like strategies throughout much of the company including video games in which users can help make a virtual city more efficient or simulate various business scenarios, says Chuck Hamilton, IBM's virtual learning leader.

With some 400,000 employees, roughly 40% of whom work from home or on the road, gaming is a way to help colleagues connect and stay engaged, explains Mr. Hamilton.

And global consulting firm Deloitte employs digital games for its Deloitte Leadership Academy, an executive education program it uses to train clients and its own consultants.

Users receive virtual badges after completing training courses and "unlock" more complex training courses when basic levels are completed, says Frank Farrall, a partner with Deloitte in Melbourne, Australia, where its gamification initiative began last year. He says that the tools are still too new to gauge their effectiveness, but that they seem to be catching on among consultants.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse G
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.