What I Learned Gaming With Articulate Storyline & Yukon Learning

Gaming and gamification is a hot topic in elearning these days, right?  Seems like it comes up in every discussion online and in person.  Last week's Learning Solutions Conference was no different.

I agree that games can be a pretty cool tool, so, being a Storyline addict (and a BIG Yukon Learning fan), the 'Game On With Articulate Storyline' session with Yukon's Ron Price immediately attracted my attention.  No surprise there.  

Here's a quick run-down of Ron's points.

Why does gaming work?  Or, why do we love games?

There are several reasons why gaming seems to work well in a lot of elearning situations.

They can:

• motivate and engage learners
• be multi-modal
• incorporate popular culture
• be used with most curriculums
• have an inherent social aspect
• be competitive
• become 'learning in disguise'--which is my favorite!

So, what are the building blocks of games?

Games generally consist of 4 main building blocks.

• Objective/goal:  without it, the game is really just a toy right?  Objectives/goals provide motivation.
• Rules:  rules provide structure and process to the game; no rules would be like recess!
• Challenges:  these provide opportunities to learn; they get the adrenaline flowing and tap into learner emotions.
• Consequences:  consequences provide learners with a way measure their progress and are often where the real learning takes place.

Ron went on to demonstrate some pretty cool games designed by his crew at Yukon Learning and built in Articulate Storyline.  As the rest of you Storyline fanatics know, Storyline does give you the power to design and create your own games pretty darn easily--you're limited only by your imagination! With Storyline, where there's a will, there's a way.

I loved this session and came away from it excited that I'm able to play with Storyline too.  Can't wait to get my game on!

And, yes Kathi, I loved your game!  :)