SERIOUS GAMING, AN EFFECTIVE BUSINESS TOOL

The development of digitalization has opened up a new era where Serious Games are at the center of attention not only for entertainment but also for brands, education and learning, etc.

They have proposed new experiences and learning opportunities but their design, objective and game play should be balanced between the playful element, marketing, learning and skills goals. So, an important aspect is to know the environment the serious game will be organized, the purpose and set the frame.

There are few points we can highlight from Serious Games in Learning:

• A TOOL FOR LEARNING ?

We understand that learning games aren’t only designed for fun but also for the potential learning benefits they can bring, how fast and the learning momentum they can create. One shouldn’t consider it as all but as an entry point / introduction / to prepare for more learning and also raise motivation which is key in the learning process. Sometimes the fun element can even have a bad result on engagement as it is about the game play not game content.

• AN ICE BREAKER TO POPULARIZE COMPLEX CONCEPTS AND FOSTER INNOVATION

Not only it can be a tool for learning but also an icebreaker to introduce a complex or innovative concept or a way to popularize it. When introducing a new concept, unknown or uncertainty can be a hindrance, therefore bringing a (well known) game to bridge it can be very helpful and powerful. For example, Lego methodology has been used widely in different ways to popularize concepts and encourage innovation in organization like in the Devops culture.

• NEED FOR CLEAR PURPOSE

Serious game with a specific purpose can be very effective like teaching intercultural communication using “it’s a Deal! Game” for example. But an important aspect is that the design of the game should be balanced in order to extract its effectiveness.

At Continuous, we have developed e-learning and serious gaming services especially with our Lego for DevOps to encourage organization to adopt a Devops culture.

Visit our DevOps coaching page on our website: https://continuous.lu/home/coaching/coaching-agile-devops/

Sources:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/bjet.12226

https://www.freemans.com/products/tactic-games-it%E2%80%99s-a-deal-board-game/_/A-46K964_

https://www.game-learn.com/the-theory-of-game-based-learning/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360131511001734

https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/article/a-brief-history-of-games