Is it time you played more games at work?

I never thought I would be able to spend so much time watching my children learn. I’ve always tried to inject a love of knowledge; from trips to The National Trust (much to their frustration) to books that stimulate their minds. However, the events of 2020 and beyond offered me an insight into how gamification can really make a difference to their wish to learn. It’s made me wonder, is it time we all played more games at work?

I came of age in the late 1990s, I am still in awe of the smartphone and the internet. I’ve given birth to two “digital natives” who expect instant access to the online world. This generational clash led to a complicated relationship with modern technology. I’m the first to admit I was hesitant and quite defensive when I saw an online, interactive book being allocated for my youngest when she started school. Math games replaced worksheets. Imagine! I could hear the little voice in my head wondering if this was going to be problematic. How would they learn anything?

I held the belief that screens are a spare time activity; yet as I sit and reflect on what I do every day, I realise how narrow-minded this is. How I make my money and interact with the world is over a screen. Last time I tried to write more than one page of notes, my hand cramped! I spend many of my days tracking my step count. Isn’t it about time I looked at the power of these tools closer?

The biggest indicator of the power of gamification is how my youngest actively seeks out school work on these platforms. She loves an English language game called Nessy. Today, she asked to play her maths game, one that technically she hadn’t been allocated during her current remote learning requirements. Yes, that is right. My nine-year-old child is asking to do more schoolwork than she needs to. Why? Because she feels like she is playing! I can see the learning in real-time; she is solving problems faster, she is less frustrated and she is challenging herself with the difficulty levels. I know from experience that she isn’t as willing if I gave her a piece of paper to work on! 

Gamification is rapidly becoming a part of learning and development in the corporate world; you may have already experienced something yourself! Very simply (and please correct me in the comments) gamification takes all the academic knowledge that is out there about learning, and combines it with some up-to-date programming and design to create multiplayer environments, which teach, not entertain. Ok, so maybe there is quite a lot of entertainment in there too! 

 

But, today I want to consider how we can bring the best elements of gamification into our day to day, to help her create a career to enjoy.

 

Curiosity

One of the great aspects of play is curiosity. What happens next? You can press the virtual button and see where it takes you! Curiously is the great antidote for fear of failure or the fear of blame. What is the worst that can happen if you try something new?

 

Competitive

Don’t lie to yourself. How many times have you tried to beat your personal best of a game? Having the drive to better your last score, or to get to the top of the leader board, is a great motivator! Having the ability to “keep score” and be rewarded for progress, is a great way of gamifying your life!

 

Experiential 

It goes without saying, everything is easier to learn if it’s fun and if you feel like you are experiencing something! Whilst you may have to break down your inhibitions again, bring some childlike role play and imagination into what you are doing. How can you practice what you are doing, by simulating a situation? 

 

Reflection

Learning can be a side effect of play. However, you can’t always notice what you have learned until you review and reflect; and you don’t have to do this through an exam! As my daughter reads her online books, she is encouraged to check in on her understanding via the comprehension questions sprinkled within the text. How could you bring regular reflection and assessment into your life? It goes without saying it’s non-judgmental; create opportunities for proactive and ongoing reflection to enable you to apply what you have learned to future situations.

 

Have you taken part in experiential learning, or find ways to play and learn? Come over to the Facebook Group and share the best ways with over 500 parents looking to create a career to enjoy.