Unlocking the power of training games for employees 

As trainers, it is our duty to ensure employees receive training that is effective, motivating, and memorable. However, finding a balance between sharing information and creating fun and exciting learning experiences can seem challenging.

If while searching you have come across words such as games, gamification or training games, let us tell you that it is not a coincidence. Training games are the best way to arouse the interest of students, get them hooked on training and guarantee the best learning experience, and in this post, we tell you all about them.

What are training games and how do they work? 

These are activities used in gamification projects, which are designed to improve employees’ skills, knowledge, or behaviors through engaging and interactive learning experiences. 

These types of games can have a wide variety of formats, from simulations, to role-playing, hands-on activities, and more. What makes them unique is that they engage learners through experiences during training rather than making them mere passive spectators.

These activities are effective since they are based on the theory of experiential learning, which focuses on the role that experience plays in the learning process. But what does this mean? When we do something, we have a concrete experience that then allows us to reflect on it to connect what we did and the results obtained, and this gives us the opportunity to put it into practice in future experiences.

Why are training games important? 

Activities or games evoke feelings and experiences that awaken the intuitive-experiential part of our brain. When we learn through these methods, information tends to be retained more quickly and forgotten less. 

Although people can learn through the passive reception of information, our brains work best when we put both intuitive-experiential and analytical-rational parts into operation. That is why learning is much more effective when information is combined with activities such as exercises or games.

Advantages of incorporating training games into learning programs 

Let’s look at some of the advantages of incorporating games into training programs:

• Improve knowledge retention 

Games present information in a more engaging and interactive way. By engaging students in firsthand, repetitive activities, you can improve their ability to remember and apply what they’ve learned to real-world situations. This not only helps acquire learning in a deeper way, but at the same time it becomes more permanent.

• Help in the development of skills and behaviors 

Gamification gives employees a safe place to practice and develop skills. Through games, technical and professional skills are reinforced, as well as positive behaviors such as decision-making, problem-solving and teamwork.

• Raise completion rates 

The competitive and rewarding nature of gaming awakens the interest of employees. In addition, when these games are combined with rewards, points, or levels, participants are more motivated to go ahead and finish the training, resulting in higher completion rates than traditional learning methods.

• Increase satisfaction and engagement 

Games make learning a more enjoyable and pleasurable experience. Employees who enjoy this process tend to be more satisfied and committed to their development, which improves program effectiveness and employee retention.

How to use gamification games to improve employee training? 

There are thousands of games that we can use to improve the training of our employees. But it’s not about playing for the sake of playing, it’s about using these elements to enrich learning, so it’s important to know how to use them and at what times: 

Icebreaker Games: Setting the stage for effective training 

Before starting any training program, it is important to create a relaxed and open environment. For this purpose, icebreaker games are ideal as they help employees feel more comfortable and get to know their colleagues better. These types of games serve to help participants relax, create connections and at the same time give space to start developing the topic of the training. This way, you’ll find employees who are more open, responsive, attentive, and more willing to participate.

Enhance learning through interactive training games 

Interactive training games are another type of gamification that you can integrate into your training. These are powerful tools for teaching concepts and skills in a practical and engaging way. These games can include simulations, interactive quizzes, matching, filling, or dragging exercises, or anything that allows employees to apply what they have learned in a module or course within a safe and controlled context. By actively engaging employees, information comprehension and retention are improved.

Fostering collaboration and engagement: The power of group games 

Group games not only teach specific skills, but also strengthen team spirit and collaboration among employees. There are many ways to do this, such as challenges between teams, departments or other headquarters, where competitors can see a leaderboard and share experiences that help them improve their results.

Making training memorable: Fun and creative games to learn 

Integrating fun and creative games into training makes learning a memorable experience. Games such as words, alphabet or memory, test the knowledge acquired during the training and help develop skills such as processing agility and retention capacity.

Since these games are interactive and stimulating, they foster a more dynamic and participatory learning environment, but it is essential to select the games and their content according to the learning objectives, and balance the levels of challenge, so that the games are stimulating, but not frustrating.

How to effectively close a training session through games and activities? 

Closing a training session effectively is important to reinforce learning and ensure that participants take away a positive and lasting experience from the experience. And what better way to do that than through a game?

Using a quick trivia game to go over key course concepts is a good way to help employees remember what they learned. Another way to achieve this is through a challenge, where participants must think about how they would apply a specific concept or tool in their work context. You can structure it as a friendly competition, where the most innovative or practical mind is rewarded.

Tips for maximizing impact through training games 

The main objective in implementing a game within your training programs is to make students learn and feel motivated. Therefore, these activities must be designed in such a way as to create an ideal environment to receive information, process it and be able to apply it in a real context. That’s why we’ll give you some tips so you can take advantage of it:

1. Personalize activities 

Make sure that the games and activities are related to the content of the training. This means that they should reflect on the learning objectives and consider the needs of the participants in aspects such as interests, level of knowledge and work context. Use a combination of games and dynamics that cater to different learning styles (visual, auditory, kinesthetic) and maintain interest and attention.

2. Encourage participation

Implement games or dynamics that promote interaction between participants, such as small group discussions, debates, or collaborative activities. In addition, it integrates points, badges or reward systems that motivate this participation. Acknowledging participants’ achievements and efforts can increase their engagement.

3. Provide feedback 

Feedback during and after activities helps participants identify and correct mistakes. Not only does this help consolidate learning, but it helps them maintain confidence.

4. Create a supportive environment 

Foster a culture where mistakes are seen as learning opportunities and where every employee feels comfortable expressing ideas or making mistakes without fear of criticism. As the person in charge of the training, you must play the role of moderator, shaping the behavior you want to see in the participants.

There are now many ways to integrate games into your training programs. New technologies and learning formulas are opening the doors to different methodologies. Game-based learning is one of them. This methodology uses games to consolidate knowledge and turn learning sessions into fun, flexible and effective experiences. If you want to know more about this methodology and its benefits, we invite you to look at this article. 

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