Game-based learning: strategies and advantages in training

create a game-based learning experience with isEazy Author

If there are two qualities that guarantee quality learning from a student, then they are attention and motivation. However, humans tend to have a limit to their attention span, which can vary according to the activity they’re taking part in. Where some can sustain their attention for 2 hours, others may only be able to handle 45 minutes. The truth is that the act of paying attention requires motivation – and one of the best ways to boost motivation is through participatory activities such as games.

Did you know that a student’s knowledge retention can increase between 50% and 70% through participatory activities? Companies are aware of this, which is why in many industries they are now turning to methodologies such as game-based learning. Eager to learn more about this exciting methodology? Keep reading!

First things first: What is game-based learning?

Game-based learning, or GBL, is a methodology that uses games specifically designed to promote knowledge acquisition. It can also be defined as games with specific learning outcomes. Generally, it’s a methodology designed to motivate, increase the ability to retain knowledge or skills, and apply them successfully in the real world.

Training through interactive resources such as games allows professionals to learn with greater autonomy and at their own pace. It’s a strategy highly valued by companies because it’s ideal for acquiring specific skills in a safe environment where professionals can make mistakes and learn without risk. This training method provides workers with a goal and allows them to perform actions and experience consequences. In the process, it shares some of the best attributes of experiential learning or learning by doing.

 

The differences between game-based learning and gamification

Perhaps one of the biggest confusions associated with this methodology lies in its similarity to gamification. While it’s true that some of these similarities are key, such as the ability to turn routine tasks into engaging learning experiences, the two approaches also have important differences.

Gamification integrates game elements, such as leaderboards, badges and points, into the whole process of learning in a non-game environment. Its aim is to increase motivation and improve learning. Game-based learning, on the other hand, focuses on the specific use of games themselves as an educational tool to consolidate knowledge gained through other means.

Additionally, one of the objectives of gamification is to stimulate participation, which is why it can be applied to so many different contexts including education, business and even health. Although GBL also seeks to stimulate participation, it focuses more on the achievement of educational objectives, which is why you’re more likely to encounter the approach in formal education and vocational training settings.

The benefits of game-based learning

New technologies have unveiled the path to modern learning methods that are increasingly effective and attractive to professionals. One of these is game-based learning, which can turn any learning session into a unique experience. Some of the benefits of GBL are:

Increased commitment and motivation

This learning methodology keeps professionals motivated and engaged in their training through games that involve actions like swiping, selecting, matching, and more. Such games have the power to transform learning, which becomes a fun and exciting experience instead of a dull obligation. In addition, games can accommodate friendly competitions, where each student can see the progress of their classmates, and seek to reach one of the top positions.

Enhanced knowledge retention

Knowledge retention improves significantly when learning is participatory. GBL allows students to explore ideas, make cognitive connections, and put their learning into practice in a way that is both effective and fun. In fact, this method, according to Edgar Dale’s learning pyramid, can increase knowledge retention by up to 75%.

Instant feedback

Educational games often include mechanisms that provide immediate feedback – a crucial tool for effective learning. Instant feedback allows students to correct errors and adjust their strategies in real time, dramatically improving their skills and understanding. Such feedback is a powerful tool for active, experiential learning.

Promotes critical thinking

Because games require users to think logically and analytically before making their next move, they enhance decision making as well as critical thinking skills. Once they’ve taken an action, they get to see the in-game effects of their decisions, and this process can be eminently helpful when applied to training. After all, any professional will have to make various decisions throughout their career.

When faced with such a situation in real-life, the critical thinking skills they’ve developed in a safe, game-based environment will give them greater self-confidence and help them make better decisions.

Establishes clear training goals

Educational games are designed around specific learning objectives that guide students through the learning content in a structured way. In fact, one of the greatest benefits of this methodology is that it establishes clear and specific training goals. These help students understand what is expected of them and focus their efforts on achieving these goals.

Personalized training experience

Games can be modified to meet the individual needs of both professionals and organizations. This means that training goals can be adjusted according to each employee’s existing skills and knowledge, and aligned with wider company goals. This makes the learning process more effective and gives it more purpose.

Facilitates staff evaluation

The use of games in learning also makes it possible to continuously and accurately assess student performance. Data collected during games can be analyzed to help identify areas for improvement and adjust teaching strategies. This allows educators to offer more personalized and effective support to each student.

Examples of game-based learning to apply to your training

1. Words: improve vocabulary and communication

Words is our educational answer to Wordle, a fun game that allows students to learn new concepts and review those they’ve picked up in other modules or courses. It’s the perfect game for developing skills and learning concepts, but can also be used in almost any type of training, since its configuration and design can be modified to accommodate many different objectives.

The dynamic is simple: finding a hidden word, for which the learners will have 6 attempts. They can visualize an image accompanied by a text with clues, which will help them discover a concept learned during the training.

Each time the student tries to guess the word, the box for each letter will change color to provide clues. For example, yellow indicates that the letter is in the word but not in that box; green indicates that the letter is in the word and the chosen box; and gray indicates that the term doesn’t have that letter.

As the professionals match a word, an explanatory text reinforces the knowledge. The more words they get right, the more concepts they reinforce and the more points they earn, allowing them to continue playing.

2. Alphabet or Rosco: develop quick thinking and memory

Alphabet is the perfect game to refresh concepts, but with all the fun! At the beginning of the game, each student must answer questions related to the training. A question for each alphabet letter: the student must respond to discover words linked to the training objectives.

When the game starts, the letters will form a circle, and the learners will answer questions when the time begins to run. The idea is to get as many words as possible in the shortest time to complete the circle, in which each letter is part of the answer.

Our version of the alphabet game includes pictures that act as clues for students to answer the questions. As the students get the answers right, they will accumulate points, and when the time is up, the game will end, and each player will be able to see their score.

3. Memory: strengthen memory and concentration

Strengthen your professionals attention, concentration, and memory through this educational game. Memory is a game that consists of matching cards related to each other to get as many points as possible. It’s the online version of the traditional memory game with which students can practice visual memory and processing agility.

The game cards can show texts and images. The important thing is that they are related so that professionals can establish a connection and identify them. For example, to reinforce customer service protocols, professionals can match daily situations with the correct way to solve them. 

How to implement game-based learning in your company

As we’ve seen, implementing game-based learning in your company can transform the way employees acquire and retain knowledge. But if you want to achieve these benefits, then you’ll need to follow certain guidelines:

  • Identify learning objectives: Before implementing a game-based learning strategy, determine exactly what skills and knowledge you want your employees to acquire. These will form your training objectives.
  • Choose (or design) appropriate games: Be sure to choose or design games that are aligned with the learning objectives you’ve settled on. For example, if you want students to learn key concepts associated with their daily work, then you could opt for matching exercises. Work with existing games or design your own to create a more personalized experience.
  • Make games an integral part of the learning program: In GBL, games form the center of learning, so you should ensure that they are properly integrated into training and not merely an ‘add-on’.
  • Provide support and resources: Provide employees with the resources they need to access and participate fully in the games. This may involve providing them with technology such as devices, as well as offering learning platforms and technical support.
  • Evaluate the results: Any learning methodology you implement must be evaluated in order to measure its effectiveness and adjust it as necessary. When employees take part in games it provides valuable data on parameters such as correct guesses, completion rates, and number of attempts. Use this data as a reference point to continually enhance training.

resources games

Strategies to maximize the impact of game-based learning

If you’re thinking about using games to enhance your employees’ learning, then make sure you get the most out of them by applying the following good practices:

  • Encourage collaboration: Design games that require teamwork and collaboration.
  • Make games relevant and meaningful: Ensure that games are relevant to employees’ daily work, and help them to solve the kind of problems they are likely to encounter. This will increase motivation and commitment.
  • Provide immediate feedback: Games should give immediate feedback so that employees can correct mistakes and improve each successive attempt.
  • Stimulate healthy competition: Implement competitive elements, such as leaderboards and rewards, to encourage healthy competition and keep employees motivated.
  • Personalize the learning experience: Tailor games to employees’ individual needs and skill levels. This could involve offering difficulty levels or alternative play styles.
  • Incorporate various types of games: Use a variety of games such as simulations, role-playing games, and question-and-answer, to address different aspects of learning and keep employee interest high.

World Kinect success story: More engagement in less production time

World Kinect, a leader in global energy solutions, faced a big challenge – training a workforce spread over more than 200 countries and territories. They were seeking a solution that would allow them to create attractive and standardized e-learning content.

Thanks to isEazy Author, World Kinect has transformed its training content, creating personalized, interactive courses without the need for advanced technical knowledge. The innovative tool has allowed them to integrate game-based learning while translating their courses into multiple languages, ensuring effective and accessible training for all their employees. In record time, the company has heightened engagement and participation in its workforce and standardized training formats, receiving high praise from both students and stakeholders. Learn more about this success story.

At isEazy we’re experts in e-learning, and there’s nothing we love more than designing modern, interactive and effective learning solutions. Multiply your training results with isEazy Author, the market’s best authoring tool, which lets you develop a range of engaging educational games based on your course content. Our powerful AI features are just a few clicks away! Give your students the chance to enjoy their learning. So what are you waiting for? Request a demo. 

Frequently Asked Questions about game-based learning

Gamification is the application of game mechanics to non-game environments, with the intention of engaging and motivating employees. Game-based learning (GBL), on the other hand, involves the use of structurally complete games for educational purposes. Games are designed to teach specific skills or help students achieve pre-defined learning outcomes by integrating educational content into the game structure.

Employee engagement and motivation can be significantly improved through gamification and game-based learning. Both methods encourage greater participation by making the learning process more fun and interactive. The inclusion of points systems, leaderboards and rewards further boosts motivation and the desire to improve. Additionally, the friendly competition that can be implemented through leaderboards prompts employees to continually push themselves.

By engaging employees in immersive, hands-on learning experiences, games create a space in which they can apply what they have learned through simulated scenarios. This helps them to better understand and retain information. Repetition and practice within the game also helps consolidate knowledge. Additionally, games often include immediate feedback, allowing employees to continually correct mistakes and improve their understanding.

Personalized training through games can be achieved by adapting the content and challenges of your game to the needs and abilities of employees. This can easily be done with a tool like isEazy Author – it includes over 25 types of resources, allowing you to create interactive courses that will engage your whole staff and boost their engagement. In addition, thanks to its new AI features, you can effortlessly integrate exercises, games, voice-overs and even final evaluations, to make the content even more interactive and effective.

Implementing game-based learning in a company starts with identifying which learning objectives and skills you wish to develop. From here, you can choose or develop games that  properly line up with these goals. Monitoring employee progress will help you determine how well things are going. With isEazy Author, you can give your courses special finishing touches through our preconfigured educational games. Choose from a whole host of games such as Alphabet, Slide, Trivial, Memory and many more!

Cristina Sánchez

CONTENT CREATED BY:

Cristina Sánchez

Digital PR Specialist at isEazy

Keep up to date with our news

Author

Design and share your own training content.

Factory

Bespoke content creation in record time.

LMS

Learning and management centred on the user experience.

Skills

A complete catalogue for upskilling your team.

Game

Gamification app for boosting the success of your training.

ESG

Sustainable app with a wide range of courses online.