Gamification has become an increasingly popular tool in employee learning and development programs. By incorporating game elements into training courses, top companies are finding new ways to engage their employees and make learning more fun and effective. In this article, we’ll explore how some of the world’s leading organizations are using gamification to enhance employee learning.
Gamified training is a training method that incorporates gaming elements such as points, badges, and leaderboards into learning courses. This approach puts a new spin on workplace learning and leverages psychology to engage learners and make them more willing to take on repetitive tasks. The results have been impressive, with gamification of training showing a positive impact on the employee recruitment process, increased retention, improved adoption of new software, and improved performance of individual employees.
Here are some key features of a gamification framework that companies are using to enhance their employee learning programs:
- Goals
All workplace training efforts need to be goal-oriented, and gamified training needs to be built around getting employees to reach those goals. Companies need to create SMART goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Defining SMART goals makes it easier for managers to track the progress of their employees while completing the goals.
- In-lesson game elements
Gamification elements can be incorporated throughout the learning process, starting with in-lesson game elements. Companies can use brief checkpoint quizzes within a narrative lesson, interactive roleplaying scenarios, or even vocabulary flashcard games as part of the in-lesson gamification.
- Post-lesson game elements
Gamification can also be applied post-lesson in the form of cumulative knowledge quizzes or recall of earlier lessons. The point of these callbacks is to reinforce knowledge and ensure maximum learning retention.
- Competitive elements
Incorporating points, badges, and leaderboards into training programs allows for friendly competition and motivates learners to complete training activities to the best of their abilities.
- Rewards
While competitive elements like points and badges make training more engaging, they don’t always work as the only source of motivation. Companies can offer more tangible rewards when learners reach certain milestones as well. Rewards provide employees with incentives to complete lessons and boost engagement.
- Scorecards
Scorecards are progress summaries that display details about the performance of individual learners. They can be customized to include several stats, including the learner’s name and profile photo or avatar, total experience points and badges collected, leaderboard standings, and leveling progress. This tool can be used by the L&D team and learners to monitor pain points and compare success without digging into the data.
Many top companies are already using gamification to enhance employee learning. For example, Deloitte used gamification to train new hires on the company’s culture, values, and processes. The game was designed to be engaging and informative, incorporating elements like leaderboards and rewards to keep new hires motivated and interested.
Another example is IBM, which created an internal social learning platform called “Think Academy.” The platform uses gamification elements such as badges, points, and leaderboards to encourage employees to learn and share knowledge. Think Academy has been a huge success, with over 70,000 registered users and over 1 million hours of learning content consumed.
Takeaway
In summary, the use of gamification in employee training has become an increasingly popular strategy among top companies around the globe. This approach to learning has been shown to have significant benefits, such as increased engagement, motivation, and retention of information. By incorporating game elements into training programs, employees are more likely to feel invested in their professional development and more likely to see the value in learning new skills.
In addition, the use of gamification can make learning a more enjoyable and dynamic experience. Traditional training methods can often be dry and uninspiring, but gamification offers a fresh and exciting approach that can capture employees’ attention and sustain their interest over time. This approach can help organizations to create a culture of learning that encourages employees to continually develop their skills and knowledge, which can benefit both the individual and the company as a whole.
Ultimately, the use of gamification in employee training is an investment in the future of the company. By providing employees with engaging and effective learning experiences, organizations can build a more skilled and motivated workforce that is better equipped to meet the challenges of the future. With the benefits of gamification becoming increasingly apparent, it’s clear that this innovative approach to training is here to stay, and more companies are likely to adopt it as part of their learning and development programs in the years to come.