ATD-NYC eLearning SIG Homework for Meeting 11/18/2015 No-Budget Gamification Copyright 2015 by Sellon Solutions LLC

Your Assignment We’re taking a flipped classroom/roundtable brainstorming approach again. Bring your homework slide in to our meeting, and we’ll go over it together. Let’s look at your assignment….

Gamify your own learning Choose a specific topic or teaching point from one of your own projects that needs to be especially memorable. Leveraging the information in the appendix of this slide deck (or from your own research), use the included Worksheet to explain how you could apply one or more gamification principles to enliven teaching your topic. We’ll take turns presenting our ideas, and then brainstorm more ideas for ways to build on everyone’s initial concepts. NOTE: If you don’t have time to put together a slide, no worries. Just bring along a project example that you think might benefit from gamification, and together we’ll brainstorm some ideas you may be able to use. Your idea could be as simple as the included example, or as ambitious as you want. Think creatively, and have fun! Make sure to put your name in your slide notes.

An Example Taken from our 2015 meeting on fixing common eLearning design mistakes.

A messy and boring slide…. Here are ways you can protect our company’s information:  Proofread s carefully  Never discuss confidential information in hallways  Don’t discuss confidential information outside work TIP: Close your office door before starting a call! TIP: Don’t let strangers hear you discuss confidential data in the cafeteria! TIP: Don’t let strangers see what you’re reading on the train or bus!

Now it’s cool and gamified! Each of these strangers has a tip to share…. TIP: Watch out! One of them is dangerous. Can you pick the four safe informants? Earn 5 points for each safe one. Pick the wrong one, and you lose all your points.

Gamification Worksheet What do I need them to learn? Only trade information with trusted sources. What specific behaviors/outcomes do I want? Aversion to clicking (metaphor: sharing information) without considering safety first. Who are my players (Achievers, Explorers, etc.)? Explorers, for this exercise. What are the basic steps of my Activity Loop? Learner clicks one item, gets feedback, is encouraged to try for more— unless they lose on the first click! What elements of engagement am I using? Free exploration, extrinsic reward points, fun What element(s) of fun am I including? Suspense/surprise; challenge; audio sounds to reinforce safe versus dangerous choices; humorous feedback that still makes its point.

Basic Gamification Concepts This appendix shares high-level principles used in game design. Thinking creatively, you can leverage many of these concepts for your eLearning projects without spending a dime. Browse these slides for ideas on how to gamify your own content.

Four basic player (learner) types Achievers (Express) Explorers (Explore) Socializers (Collaborate) Killers/Dominators (Compete)

What makes it engaging? Not too easy, not too hard Balance of structure and free exploration Meaningful incentives and motivation Emotional engagement (characters, story) Empowerment Centered on the people who make up the specific target audience Fun

What are some elements of fun? Solving Winning Exploring Surprise Relaxing Role playing/questing Sharing Recognizing Collecting Goofing around Mastery

Types of motivation IntrinsicExtrinsic Competence/Mastery Autonomy (free choice, exploration) Relatedness (social connection, bigger picture) Status (points, badges, leaderboards, titles, etc.) Access (to special extras, etc.) Power (enhanced abilities, etc.) Tangible items (money, coupons, t-shirt or cap, etc.)

Points, Badges, and Leaderboards Within a standalone course, it can be fairly simple in software programs like Storyline and Captivate to create a structure for awarding Points, or fun-looking Badges, to reward learner progress. Leaderboards can be a powerful tool for a competitive audience (like Sales). But they can be complex to set up and maintain on the back end. And for some non-competitive Player types, leaderboards can actually act as a de-motivator.

A simple “activity loop” Games typically consist of a series of activity loops that are strung together to create a progression loop. So what’s an activity loop? Here’s a very simple example: Learner is encouraged to explore a slide Learner clicks on slide object Learner receives feedback and is encouraged to continue/try again. Learner clicks another slide object. Learner receives feedback…Etc.

Gamification Worksheet What specific thing do I need them to learn? What specific behaviors/outcomes do I want? Who are my Players (Achievers, Explorers, etc.)? What are the basic steps of my Activity Loop? What elements of engagement am I using? What element(s) of fun am I including?

Sharing and Questions Please your completed Worksheet slide (and any companion slides you choose to create) to eLearning SIG co- chairs by Monday 11/16: and If you have any questions, please send them to the same addresses. We look forward to brainstorming with you on November 18th!