A Primer on Play

Welcome!
Sharon Boller
BLP Prez
Game Junkie
Lead designer:
Knowledge Guru®
Using
Twi)er?
Follow
along:
@thekguru

We produce a lot of learning games

But we’re here to talk about…
Knowledge Guru® game engine: LOTS of different Games!

But we’re here to talk about…
Knowledge Guru® game engine: LOTS of different Games!

But we’re here to talk about…
Knowledge Guru® game engine: LOTS of different Games!

But we’re here to talk about…
Knowledge Guru® game engine: LOTS of different Games!

But we’re here to talk about…
Knowledge Guru® game engine: LOTS of different Games!

Our Game Plan
Why games?
What problems can
they solve?
Overview of
Knowledge Guru®
Play – Learn – Track -
Remember
Game Creation
Wizard
walkthrough
Player
Reactions &
Business
Results
How to get a
free trial

A Poll – What’s True for You?
1. My organization is currently developing
and using serious games or learning
games.
2. My organization is evaluating whether
serious games/gamification of learning is
a good idea.
3. I just needed a place to hang out during
lunch.

What do we even MEAN by game?
An
ac.vity
with
a
defined
goal
or
challenge,
rules
that
guide
achievement
of
the
goal,
interac6vity
with
either
other
players
or
the
game
environment
(or
both),
and
feedback
mechanisms
that
give
clear
cues
as
to
how
well
or
poorly
you
are
performing.
Playing
results
in
a
quan6fiable
outcome
(you
win/you
lose,
you
hit
the
target,
etc).
Usually
generates
an
emo6onal
reac6on
in
players.

Why do games work?
The short answer?

Why do games work?
Because they are
FUN.

The more detailed answer….
Learning
Element
Game
Elements
that
Match
Mo.va.on
Game
goals
or
challenges,
conflict,
.me,
coopera.on,
reward
structures
(feedback,
points,
achievements),
-­‐
all
help
equate
to
the
“fun”
in
games.
Relevant
prac.ce
Game
goal
or
challenges,
rules
within
game,
reward
structures,
game
loops
Feedback
PreLy
much
a
1:1
here
–
reward
structures
in
game
supply
feedback.
“Game
loop”
also
supplies
feedback
Retrieval
later
Lots
of
ways
games
help
with
retrieval:
Context,
story,
desire
for
repeat
play,
emo.on
aLached
to
game
play.
INFO
ON
YOUR
TABLES!!
TAKE
A
SCROLL.

Reduction in Forgetting Curve
30% in 3 to 6 days’ time
50% in 3 to 6 days’ time
70% in 3 to 6 days’ time
90% (or more) in 3 to 6 days’ time
A.
B.
A.
C
D.

Reduction in Forgetting Curve

What the Research Says
Review of meta-analysis
studies in Chapter 4.
“Games are effective for
learning.” Advantages over
traditional non-interactive
instruction.

What the Research Says

Case Study: McDonalds Japan

Case Study: McDonalds Japan
Source:
Bloomberg
Invested $2.2M; created Nintendo DS game
for front-line employees. Cut training time in
half.

Very cool but…
• How many of you have $2.2M to spend?
• How many of you have game designers on
staff?
Scary Stat
Gartner: By 2014, 80% of gamification initiatives will fail.
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Round 1: Starbucks Game
• You win. Your neighbors win (people on
either side of you).
• What are the FOUR elements required for
learning?
• Write responses onto index card. Raise your hand
when ready. We’ll do our best to spot the first hand
up and have you read your response.

Our Game Plan
Why games?
What problems can
they solve?
Overview of
Knowledge Guru®
Play – Learn – Track -
Remember
Game Creation
Wizard
walkthrough
Player
Reactions &
Business
Results
How to get a
free trial

Organizations’ biggest challenges…
ü Product
knowledge
ü Industry facts
ü Policies and
procedures
ü Research data
ü Sales messages

We wanted…
For people to be able to PLAY.
To LEARN while they play.
To TRACK what’s being learned – and identify
what’s not being learned.
For players to REMEMBER.

A game engine that makes it easy to create
learning games that get results.
ü Authoring and publishing tool
ü Web-based solution; we host
ü Powerful game linked to learning science; helps
people build long-term memory

Play
ü Game Goal
ü Theme
ü Story
ü Aesthetics
ü Competition
ü Rewards, achievements

Play
Game Goal: Become a Knowledge Guru

Play
Theme &
Story -
Fantasy

Play
Theme &
Story -
Business

Play
Aesthetics

Play
Competition,
Rewards,
Achievements

Play
Competition,
Rewards,
Achievements

Play
Competition,
Rewards,
Achievements

Play
Competition,
Rewards,
Achievements

Learn
Game TITLE - what you want learner to become a Guru on.
Within each TOPIC, 1 to 5 LEARNING OBJECTIVES that
specify what learner should know or do
TOPICS (up to 4); broad categories associated with what people
need to know or do.
For each learning objective, at least one QUESTION SET. A
question set is 3 questions – each an iteration of the other one.

Learn
Identify and define eight common game
elements and recognize their use in games:
story, aesthetics, time, levels, competition,
cooperation, chance, strategy.

Learn

Learn

Learn

Learn

Learn

Track

Track

Track

Track

Track

Track
LMS Tracking
“Power-Up”

Remember
Learning Objective
Identify and define eight common game elements and
recognize their use in games: story, aesthetics, time,
levels, competition, cooperation, chance, strategy.

Remember
Iteration A: This game element involves the use of a
narrative thread…” What is it?
Iteration B: “Defeat the Martians and regain control of
earth’s manufacturing sites is an example of the use of story
in a game. True or False?
Iteration C: Review the quote. Decide what game
element it represents. “Martians have invaded….”

Remember
Iteration A Iteration B Iteration C
One iteration per path. Learners climb all three
paths to achieve Topic Mastery.

Remember
• Space
out
learning
w/
a
distributed
prac.ce
session.
• Add
an
addi.onal
repe..on

Round 2 Starbucks Game
We created Guru game because we wanted…
For people to be able to ___________.
To ____________ while they play.
To _________ what’s being learned – and
identify what’s not being learned.
For players to ________________.

Our Game Plan
Why games?
What problems can
they solve?
Overview of
Knowledge Guru®
Play – Learn – Track -
Remember
Game Creation
Wizard
walkthrough
Player
Reactions &
Business
Results
How to get a
free trial

Testimonial – Fortune 500 tech company
Rated game 4.93 out of 5 in
terms of its value as a
learning experience
Players averaged 3.5 hours
of play.

Testimonial – Fortune 500 tech company
Rated use of repetition 4.93
out of 5 in terms of the value
it provided in building long-
term memory.

Testimonial – Fortune 500 tech company
I thought the game was
excellent. Great way to study
and reinforce learning.
Should be implemented for
each technical module.

Testimonial – Agriculture Co./Fortune 1000
I played…and found it very
interesting and fun. It’s a
powerful education tool Hope
it will be available for other
key crops/pests.

Testimonials – ExactTarget player
The game was great! It was
a fun way to learn about
MobileConnect. I enjoyed the
scenario-type questions,
which put it all in
perspective.

Testimonials – ExactTarget player
I’m a pretty competitive person,
so challenging myself to get
one of the top scores added a
layer of fun to learning about
the product.

Testimonials – ExactTarget player
The repetition of the
different paths helped me
retain the information.

Business Results

Business Results
• Quicker pipeline built: “Of all the launches done in the
two years previous to the MobileConnect launch, the
sales team built one of the quickest pipelines for this
product.”
• Dramatic increase in first-call support resolution.
• Greatly increased contract values.
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UP
TO
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MORE
INFO
ON
GURU
PRODUCT

Our Game Plan
Why games?
What problems can
they solve?
Overview of
Knowledge Guru®
Game Creation
Wizard
walkthrough
Player
Reactions &
Business
Results
How to get a
free trial

Game Creation Wizard
Most organizations lack the expertise,
people resources, or $$ to create
meaningful serious games that enable
PLAY, LEARN, TRACK, REMEMBER.

Game Creation Wizard

Edit Topics Screen

EDIT OBJECTIVES screen

View Questions Screen

Edit Questions

Preview Questions

Export Questions

Make Game ‘Live’

Power-Ups
Customized
Gurus,
branding
Instructional
design help
Customized
registration
fields
LMS data
import

The Game Creation Wizard lets you create
games based on these three research-based
ways of building long-term memory. They are:
R_______________
D____________ Practice or Spaced Learning
F______________

Get Your Own Game On
Why games?
What problems can
they solve?
Overview of
Knowledge Guru®
Game Creation
Wizard
walkthrough
Player
Reactions &
Business
Results
How to get a
free trial

http://theknowledgeguru.com/free-trial
$100 off with promo code SHOWGURU1

Thanks for playing! Reach us at
• Twitter: @thekguru
• guru@theknowledgeguru.com
• 317-861-7326
http://theknowledgeguru.com/free-trial
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DATA
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