Education: Higher Ed
Game-based Learning for Remote Training Opportunities
How microlearning games created on The Training Arcade®, and Arcades™ kept Michigan State University learners engaged and motivated.
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"The gamified learning experience proved to be a clear favorite among learners. According to Business Analyst Jessica VanElls, over 70% of participants completed at least one game-based learning journey multiple times. Remarkably, two users revisited some of these journeys more than 20 times each. In contrast, none of the learners completed the LMS-based journeys more than once."
Awards
Client
A top global university, Michigan State University (MSU) pushes the boundaries of discovery to make a better world while providing students with life-changing opportunities. Established in 1855, they are ranked #30 top public US Universities and have over 50,000 students. The student-faculty ratio is 16:1.
Challenge
Michigan State University (MSU) Advancement sought to enhance the training and onboarding process for their University Advancement team, focusing on new business policies, procedures, and the implementation of a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. Their goal was to modernize the traditional, instructor-led approach by incorporating game-based learning and gamification elements to create a more engaging experience. With the onset of COVID, they faced the challenge of adapting to a hybrid model that combined both asynchronous and synchronous learning. The training needed to be not only interactive and immersive but also fully virtual to accommodate remote participation.
Strategy & Solution
Training Services at Michigan State University (MSU) Advancement utilized The Training Arcade®, a game-authoring tool, and Arcades™, a gamification platform, to develop a dynamic virtual learning environment. By incorporating microlearning games and interactive activities, they aimed to keep learners engaged and motivated throughout the training process. Their strategy involved a phased approach, ensuring long-term knowledge retention and multiple opportunities for reinforcement. The training was structured into four key phases: teaser videos, pre-onboarding, onboarding, and post-onboarding.
To enhance engagement, they leveraged Vyond animation software to create animated characters who served as virtual tour guides, leading learners through the onboarding journey. This self-directed approach allowed participants to customize their learning experience by selecting from three training pathways:
- The Training Arcade® learning journey with games
- The Training Arcade® learning journey without games
- A Learning Management System (LMS) with quizzes
All three options provided identical learning materials, with the only difference being the mode of content delivery. This consistency enabled Training Services to assess learning gaps based on content comprehension rather than format preferences.
The gamified learning environment was built within Arcades. It featured structured learning journeys with multiple checkpoints that learners had to complete before progressing further. Daily missions, consisting of just 1-2 activities, encouraged regular engagement by allowing participants to earn Experience Points (XP) and climb the leaderboard through frequent interactions with the platform.
Training Specialist Laura Fenger and Learning Designer Adeline Wharton led the development of an extensive training library, producing:
- 119 documents
- 166 videos
- 170 training games
- 24 daily missions
- 30 structured learning journeys
Using The Training Arcade® game-builder, they designed 170 interactive games, which were then integrated into their customized Arcade. These games covered essential topics such as new business terminology and CRM navigation. The selected game formats included JEOPARDY!®, Wheel of Fortune®, Trivia, Sort-It, and Scenarios, a branching-path simulation game. Each game was enhanced with videos and images to support learners in answering questions effectively, ensuring a rich, interactive learning experience.
Results
The gamified learning experience proved to be a clear favorite among learners. According to Business Analyst Jessica VanElls, over 70% of participants completed at least one game-based learning journey multiple times. Remarkably, two users revisited some of these journeys more than 20 times each. In contrast, none of the learners completed the LMS-based journeys more than once.
The presence of the leaderboard played a significant role in engagement, driving motivation among learners in both the game-based and non-game-based journeys. The competitive nature of earning Experience Points (XP) encouraged active participation. University Advancement also discovered that engagement in The Training Arcade® game journeys was twice as high as the LMS experience. After the first week, LMS-based journeys accounted for less than 20% of total user activity, reinforcing the effectiveness of gamification in maintaining learner interest.
Feedback
Game-based learning played a pivotal role in helping Training Services at Michigan State University Advancement address the challenges of asynchronous training while keeping employees motivated and engaged. Laura Fenger designed games that incorporated real-life scenarios with immediate feedback, ensuring the content was both practical and engaging. Recognizing the importance of balancing realism with entertainment, Adeline Wharton collaborated with subject matter experts and IT during the initial analysis phase to ensure accuracy while maintaining an engaging learning experience.
With remote work presenting significant challenges for their department, making training enjoyable was a top priority. They found that game-based learning not only helped staff absorb new content but also provided a safe, interactive "practice sandbox" where they could apply their knowledge without risk. Additionally, game data and analytics enabled Training Services to identify knowledge gaps, allowing them to refine and optimize the training program for even greater effectiveness.
To learn more, watch the video from a webinar on this topic here
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