Level Up Your Training: Unleashing the power of serious games in your workplace

Serious games allow for the transmission of "serious" information in a "gamified" way. It provides a playful approach to prevention, awareness, teaching, and training. Serious games are games whose primary purpose is educational, and they offer various applications for professional training. 

Here are 5 ways serious games can be used for professional training:

1. Training for specific job skills 

• Keep up with evolving job requirements by providing continuous training to update technical skills.
• Revitalize repetitive training sessions with serious games, especially for highly technical roles.
• Use simulations to train employees in high-risk activities within a safe and engaging context.

Key Takeaways: Serious games inject enjoyment, challenge, and competition into training sessions, increasing motivation and effectiveness for both individual and collective learning.

2. Promoting the adoption of digital tools 

• Overcome challenges in training for digital tools by using serious games. These challenges may include the complexity of learning intricate software interfaces, the need for hands-on practice in a safe environment, and the engagement and motivation of learners throughout the training process.
• Introduce new tools or teach internet best practices through intuitive and fun interactions.
• Help employees who struggle with technology to have a positive first impression of digital tools by making them interesting.

Key Takeaways: Serious games provide a playful way to encourage the adoption of digital tools, making training more accessible and enjoyable.

3. Fostering cohesion during training 

• Use serious games to create a sense of unity within the training program.
• Incorporate competition elements, such as levels, badges, and scoreboards, to encourage self-improvement.
• Promote teamwork by setting goals that can be achieved collectively.

Key Takeaways: By using serious games, you can enhance motivation and collaboration among participants, ultimately fostering a cohesive learning environment.

4. Making sensitive topics engaging through playful means 

• Address stressful or anxiety-inducing subjects, such as discrimination, mental health, ecology, sexual harassment through interactive simulations.
• Repetition of information helps people learn more effectively.
• Putting players in immersive environments can help change attitudes and foster empathy.
• Utilize serious games to teach best practices effectively in areas that are not easily quantifiable. This can be decision-making under uncertainty, critical thinking, ethical considerations, and interpersonal skills. These intangible skills and competencies often require experimental learning and practical application to fully grasp and internalize. 
• Serious games provide a dynamic and immersive platform to simulate real-world scenarios, allowing learners to practice and refine these skills in a risk-free environment while receiving immediate feedback and guidance.

Key Takeaways: Serious games offer a way to sensitize employees on important yet sensitive topics by providing immersive experiences and positive learning outcomes.

5. Integrating new team members through gaming 

• Make the onboarding process enjoyable by gamifying it.
• Use games-like association exercises with the company's photo directory to help new hires get to know their colleagues.
• Create interactive experiences to familiarize newcomers with the company's policies and best practices through simulation games.

Key Takeaways: Onboarding shouldn't be boring for the learner or overwhelming for their mentor. Gamifying the process helps establish a positive rapport and a sense of camaraderie, making their first experience with the company more enjoyable.

Conclusion

In summary, serious games offer multiple benefits for professional training, including engaging onboarding experiences, fostering cohesion, addressing sensitive topics, improving job skills, and promoting the adoption of digital tools. At Play Curious, we leverage the pedagogical and playful possibilities of serious games in our customized online platforms, ensuring effective learning experiences. 

Are you interested in building a serious game for your company? Contact us and we can guide you to a solution that is tailored to your needs.