Human resource professionals need to know why and how to build a gamified simulation training program that leads to better staff training outcomes.
Gaming is fun, isn’t it? But what about getting your staff trained? Yes! It isn’t a cakewalk since training is not enjoyed by the employees of any organization most of the time. So, why not introduce gamification in training that can relieve the mundane and make learning a lot more fun and fruitful?
This article will provide useful insights into why you need gamification in training to build gamified simulation programs, even if you are not considering one.
Gamification in training is vital and serves both the company and its employees.
Why do you need to build a simulation training program and introduce gamification in corporate training?
It builds skills
Gamification in training and development provides your staff the freedom to make decisions. They can get things wrong as many times they like and, ultimately, develop the right skill with minimal repercussions.
Gamification employee training provides the ability to practice
With long repetition and practice intervals, annual training may not always be the best way to improve the performance of your employees. We see professionals in every field who never stop practicing their skills.
They know performance improves with regular practice. Gamification in learning will give them the tools much needed for continuous learning and development.
Accelerated learning techniques help to understand people
Corporate leaders often find it challenging to understand the people they are managing. That’s precisely why they fail to motivate and help them in reaching their peak potential.
In a gamified simulated environment, leaders can watch their people respond and react, understand their personality traits, and know-how to get the best out of them.
Game-based learning motivates and engages
In a gamified simulated environment, employees are more motivated and cognitively engaged. Their investment in learning efforts is more. They can view their progress relative to their peers and, thereby, promote ownership of one’s learning.
The benefits of gamification in the workplace include promotion of the application of knowledge
Employees can practice specific behaviors and decision-making and experience their impact in a gamified-simulated environment. In the absence of distracting variables, employees can truly practice and apply their knowledge to test themselves.
Advantages of gamification include enabling tracking of performance
Employees get immersed in a gamified-simulated environment and learn through trial and error. As they have a certain degree of control over a problem or situation, they have the flexibility to check different strategies. And, with the elements therein, it is possible to track their performance and the mastery of valuable concepts.
How to build a gamified simulation training program?
The following tips will help you build an effective gamified simulation training program with fine psychology, gaming, and learning mix.
It must be business-specific
You must ensure that the gamified simulated scenarios are designed keeping your business in mind. Use of actual experiences at the workplace. Employees should be able to respond in real-time and engage in friendly competition with their colleagues.
It must ensure a safe environment
Employees must be provided a safe environment so that they are free to make mistakes and learn from trial and error.
It must ensure employees master skills with freedom and emotional connectivity
For an impactful gamified simulation training program, the right knowledge and the application of behavioral psychology are mandatory. In addition, the training should be designed to give an impression that the employees are emotionally connected and are mastering their skills with freedom.
It must permit employees to play multiple times
Employees should be encouraged to play through the different modules as many times as they wish. The data gathered from these training sessions can then be used to determine their problem areas.
It must assist employees
Make tracking and assisting employees an integral part of a gamified simulation training program. Regular assistance can make them more confident in areas in which they are lacking.
It must enhance an actual training program
Gamified elements can enhance an actual training program. We can take the example of administration training. Integrating gameplay can help trainees develop the skill-set that improves their performance as a team.
It must inculcate rewards and incentives
Rewards and incentives motivate employees to find solutions to problems. It can be a simple motivational message or a more complex, anonymous country-wide leader-board where they are ranked.
It must contain all the rules, regulations, and limits
Rules, regulations, and limits are part of the compliance training, but step-by-step instructions should be avoided as it eliminates the entire purpose of gamified learning.
It must include the challenges
These are the challenges that employees must overcome to reach their objectives. Scenarios should be created where employees are challenged to make exceptional decisions and learn what it takes to succeed.
It must include clear objectives
Clear objectives make the goals evident. This helps employees in knowing the goals of their training program beforehand and focus on visualizing their goals.
