5 Elements of eLearning games to increase employee engagement

What are eLearning games?

There are various types of aspects of eLearning games that enhance the efficiency of the training programs. Let us look at five elements of e-learning games that help boost employee engagement, performance, and retention: –

1- Stories and scenarios

A storyline can make a game more intriguing and memorable. Including a backstory in the rules and then revealing the storyline or a situation throughout the game can make learning more enjoyable.  

Thematic elements of narrative threads can also be used to convey the story as the game progresses. The concepts can be quickly learned if explained through a story, a real-life situation, or a simulation of a scenario at the workplace.

2- Challenges

The learning game must be a challenge for learners. It is typical human behavior to be intrigued by the challenges we face. Focus on a clear goal and turn it into a challenge that is engaging for your learners.

The level of challenge should be appropriate. In most cases, your intended audience can have a mix of novices and experts. One solution to cope with a mixed group is to keep the initial challenges easy and gradually increase complexity. For example: Enhance visual learning through the game of recall.

The game can project a real-life work environment, without giving the player any hint as to what they need to remember. The player can then be challenged to recall specific details about what they just saw in the picture during a series of questions testing memorization and retention power of the learner. This can be made time-bound for adding difficulties.

3- Rewards

eLearning games are designed to motivate learners through rewards.  eLearning game designers frequently motivate learners by providing a degree of proficiency with badges for completing a training module.

However, if you reward every activity that the learner does, the exclusivity may be reduced. It can be just like a game of KBC, Jeopardy, etc. Rewards can be some discount coupons or free meal passes.

4- Leaderboard

The eLearning games must incorporate an element of competition because only then learners will engage with the training module. So, this can easily be integrated with the help of a leaderboard. Leaderboards motivate the employees to work harder to improve their position but also gauge the efficiency of the approach of other colleagues.

The game might require learners to complete the tasks they perform in their work, along with puzzles and strategic activities. They shall be awarded points according to their performance in the game, which will be updated on the leader board daily or weekly. This will turn the game into a competition where participants will compete amongst each other for the leader board finish.

5- Theme and story

For the new joiners, it can be difficult and a mundane task to go through the lengthy training programs. So, this is where a theme-based game with its visual elements can come in handy as a part of the eLearning program. By adding a back story and some characters, themes can create engagement and interest on the part of the learners in the game being played. An entire storyline can be incorporated within the game to make the learning experience even more exciting.

Learners tend to relate better with the training program and also enjoy a better retention rate when they are part of a story instead of just mugging-up random facts. An impressive storyline is built upon four essential elements i.e., plot, characters, problem, and resolution.

The obvious benefits that game-based learning offers over traditional training methodologies are too significant to be ignored. This is why most organizations are making eLearning games a part of their training strategy. Thus, without a doubt, in the coming years, this trend is set to become more popular.

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