The Science of FUN for L&D

by Jonathan Peters, PhD - Chief Motivation Officer, Sententia Gamification

https://www.vecteezy.com/members/twilightmoon

I overhead this question during the July 4th holiday, and I've been thinking about it, “Why do we, as adults, still take a break from learning in the summer?”

That thought germinated as I read the book Homo Ludens: A Study of the Play-Element in Culture by Johan Huizinga. (I don’t recommend the book; it’s old, not written in English, and very academic.) 

Seven Ways to Add Stories to Your eLearning Courses

We all know that stories are a great way to engage an audience, yet it seems so few people actually study and use the tool in a manner that truly impacts their audience.

So what does it actually take to create a story that is not only engaging but also a highly effective training tool?

Should Narrative Be a Part of EVERY Corporate Learning Program?

Imagine that you’re asked to create a training program/job aid to address quality control issues within your organization. You could start with flow charts, statistics, and time studies… OR you can create a Quest. Now every problem becomes a challenge to overcome, a mystery to be solved. The focus is on the goal and if the team works together and makes the necessary sacrifices – everyone will be able to achieve that goal.

The Use of Narrative in Gamification Design

Good games are framed around a compelling story. What do you remember from a training or workshop experience that you have participated in? Facts, figures, and statistics? Not likely. It’s the stories.

We learn best from the analogies and remember the stories. The Game the System™ model of Gamification allows you to design your training around a story.

And the good news is that you don’t have to start with a blank page to create your storyline.

What is Your "Go To" Close?

The close of your speech or workshop is often one of the most neglected parts of your presentation, but also one of the most important. The close is your final opportunity to inspire the audience, drive an action, or change an opinion.

Based on the time left on the clock, I have a number of  "go to" closes that I choose from - all of which can be adapted to most topics.

And although I may have used client examples and a variety of design ideas throughout my presentation, during the closing minutes, I also like to bring it home by touching on my personal ties to the topic, which often helps to create a deeper audience connection.

This short video clip is from a Gamification Lunch & Learn with the Austin ATD Chapter - my local chapter where I currently serve on the board as VP of Professional Development.

The illuminator activity at the beginning of this clip is designed to show participants with a quick illustration that even when we think we’re doing our very best, we can usually do just a little bit better. This closing activity which I call Reach for the Sky, is taken from the pages of my Totally Awesome Training Activity Guidebook - Put Gamification to Work for You. 

Most people will forget facts and figures, but they always remember stories. And in fact, everyone loves a good story, and they will be more likely to connect with your speech if you tell a true story involving real characters. And even though I've given a similar close a hundred times, because it is true and it is personal, I still find myself getting choked up as I talk about how we rob a child's desire to learn from them.

So what is your "go to" close? I'd love to hear about it, or share a clip with us... we'd LOVE to see it!

About the Author: Monica Cornetti

Founder and CEO, Sententia
www.SententiaGames.com
www.monicacornetti.com

A gamification speaker and designer, Monica Cornetti is rated as a #1 Gamification Guru in the World by UK-Based Leaderboarded. She is the author of the book Totally Awesome Training Activity Guide: Put Gamification to Work for You, writes The Gamification Report blog, and hosts the weekly Gamification Talk Radio program.

We All Have a Story to Tell... What's Yours?

Stories help us to organize and remember information and tie content together. Our brains are hard-wired to think and express in terms of a beginning, middle and end. It's how we understand the world.

If you, like many adults believe you lack creativity to develop an engaging storyline, try this. The next time you’re in a public setting with a friend or colleague, spend a few minutes watching the people around you. Now with your companion create a “back story” about the couple sitting at the table next to you, or the business man juggling his briefcase, coffee, and cell phone. Before long you’ll be laughing and creating fun, intriguing, and sometimes outrageous stories about complete strangers – who surprisingly, you also now feel somehow connected to.

When a story reaches our hearts, it takes hold of us, and we want to hear more. Our minds remember stories, especially stories with emotions attached, much better than they remember lists, numbers, or concepts.