the power of play: learning with the knowledge guru
DESCRIPTION
How do you use the power of play to help people learn? ExactTarget, a global software as a service (SaaS) company, did it with a custom game created with the Knowledge Guru game engine. Players got immersed; the company got learning results. The Knowledge Guru mobile or desktop game uses repetition and spaced learning to ensure long-term retention. This session will showcase the game and tell you how and why it works. It will also demo Knowledge Guru’s ability to track the learning as players play.TRANSCRIPT
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The Power of PlayLearning with
the Knowledge Guru™
By Bottom-Line Performance
Your Game Masters…aka presenters
Sharon BollerBottom-Line Performance
Lead designer, Knowledge Guru™ game engine.@Sharon_Boller
Scott ThomasExactTarget
@scott_thomas_et
• I like to play (board games, team games, computer games, puzzles, word searches, social games, etc.)
• We actively use game-based learning in our organization
• I’d like to implement game-based learning in my organization – but haven’t convinced people of its value yet.
The Power of Play for You?
Today’s agendaWhy games
work
ExactTarget’s story
How Kguru helps you remember
Why games?
Play Game
“I learned SO much by playing this game. It was
tons of fun. I learned more by playing this game than any webinar,
meeting, or document I’ve encountered.”
“Mind-blowing”
“Can you create
more stuff like this?”
Annika, Age 8
Why do games work?1
32
The short answer?Because they are FUN.
Expert view: Carnegie Mellon….
To progress in a game is to learn; when we are actively engaged with a game, our minds are experiencing the pleasure of grappling with (and coming to understand) a new system.
(Jessica Trybus, New Media Institute’s resident Game-based Learning and Communications Guru and Director of Edutainment for Carnegie Mellon University's Entertainment Technology Center.)
www.bottomlineperformance.com
But what’s FUN?
• Winning• Achieving goals• Triumphing• Collaborating • Exploring and building• Collecting• Problem-solving or strategizing• Role playing or imagining • Surprise – surprising others and
being surprised ourselves.
What’s Required to Learn?
MotivationRelevant Practice
Specific, timely feedback
Ability to retrieve later
Breaking it down further: Feedback
“The premise of a feedback loop is simple: Provide people with information about their actions in real time, then give them a chance to change those actions, pushing them toward better behaviors.”
Wired Magazine, June 19, 2011
www.bottomlineperformance.com
Breaking it down further: FeedbackSchool district had huge problem with speeding.
Tried replacing old signs with bigger, new ones, ticketing people during drop-off, pick-up times. Nothing worked.
What finally gave measurable improvement was “dynamic speed displays” or driver feedback signs. “Your speed.”
Signs have proven to be consistently effective, getting people to slow by 10 mph over several miles. They work because they leverage a feedback loop.
www.bottomlineperformance.com
Linking Games to LearningLearning Element Game Elements that Match
Motivation Game goals, PBLs, levels, flow, the “fun”
Relevant practice
Game mechanics, story, challenges, (e.g. the rules), game theme.
Feedback Rewards and consequences
Retrieval later 1) Repeat to remember – repetition; 2) spaced learning 3) Relevant practice.
Today’s agendaWhy games
work
How Kguru helps you remember ExactTarget’s
story
What is the Knowledge Guru?
A solution to a problem we’ve seen over and over with our clients.
We wanted…For people to be able to PLAY.
For them to LEARN while they played.
For clients to TRACK what people were learning (or not learning).
And for players to REMEMBER, long after they played.
And…we wanted people to be able to play across
multiple devices: desktop, iPad, or Android tablet
via web app or native app.
We wanted a solution that could work
independently of an LMS…or be Tin Can compliant
so it COULD work with an LMS
How Guru links to Learning
Annika, Age 8
Motivation – in story, in challenge (become a Guru)
How Guru links to Learning
Annika, Age 8
Motivation – in PBLs
How Guru links to Learning
Annika, Age 8
Relevance– no extraneous content, period.
How Guru links to Learning
Annika, Age 8
Relevance– game questions mirror customer ?s
How Guru links to Learning
Annika, Age 8
Feedback– immediate, followed by immediate opp to retry. Consequence = points gained/lost.
How Guru links to Learning
Annika, Age 8
Retrieval– repetition, spaced learning
How Guru does MeasurementAdmin tool lets you verify what people do – and don’t get
Today’s agendaWhy games
work
How Kguru helps you remember ExactTarget’s
story
ExactTarget (NYSE: ET)
Based in Indy, we enable marketers - through software - to integrate data to create a unified view of each consumer and engage in real-time, cross-channel marketing.
We have: 1,500 employees worldwide 250,000 users worldwide 500 + partners worldwide
We also have great customers, including Best Buy, Groupon, NASA, Nike, Papa John’s, Microsoft
Why ExactTarget used the Guru
1. Multiple Product Lines and Multiple Product Launches• 9 distinct product lines within organization• Product line releases each month
2. Employees, clients, and partners had training overload; we needed to find a way to “mix it up.”
3. MobileConnect was one of the largest product launches we ever had. Critical for us to educate folks.
Positioning the game
2.
Marketed the heck out of it.
1. Reinforcement tactic rather than primary learning method.
Positioning the game (cont.)
3. Required in some functional units.
4. Provided managers with idea kits.
5.Drew attention to leaderboards on a regular basis.
What Did Folks Say…
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.
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 MobileConnect product.
The repetition of the different paths helped me
retain the information.
Business Results…
Annika, Age 8
Next time….
1. Ask some questions more specific to specific job role.
2. Test game as a primary learning method versus as a reinforcement method.
Want info electronically?
• Text the word GURU and your email address to 38767– EX: GURU [email protected]
• Email will be sent with links to a variety of information sources regarding this breakout session
• You can also email [email protected] and request info as well.
• Check out public games for yourself at www.theknowledgeguru.com/ or download a sample game – Nutrition Guru - from App store.
Thank You! Contact Us…
Email [email protected]
[email protected] Handles Sharon_Boller
scott_thomas_etWebsites www.theknowledgeguru.com
www.exacttarget.comBooth #608 (Sharon)DemoFest #54 (Scott)