Where are the e-Learning Developers?

If you are wondering where are the e-learning Developers at the moment? Well, we are on a workshop design development sprint, to look at ways of enhancing our face to face workshops.

The problem

Learning Services at UCS provide a range of generic workshops where the intended learning outcomes are around developing knowledge and awareness, and developing hands-on skills to complete certain tasks. Within this are a number of challenges based on the learner characteristics for the generic sessions, these include; a large range in cohort sizes, large variation in existing skills, knowledge and backgrounds, cross discipline, and cross academic level (undergrads, postgrads and staff).

The range in learner characteristics for our workshops has resulted in many session facilitators being “safe” within their learning designs, they question the effectiveness of sessions as change agents, and wonder about student participation and engagement.

Give this background, recently a member of the team suggested we need to explore the concept of gamification within our workshop designs to re-invigorate our sessions and make them more engaging and effective. Interest in this has gained momentum / buy-in from the Learning Services Management Team.

The task (the product)

• To present to the Learning Services Management Team, your findings on why and how we can use Gamification to enhance the learning experience within our workshop designs. This should include, two worked up, core topic workshop designs which use different aspects of gamification. The presentation should be 15 minutes, with 10 minutes for questions. All group members should be involved in the presentation.
• A short report (less than 200 words), including recommendations and an implementation plan needs to accompany this presentation.
• A short reflection (less than 500 words) on a potential of this approach as a workshop and staff development tool

Guided Questions

• What are the elements of gamification?
• How have others implemented it within a similar context to us? What worked, what didn’t?
• What would a workshop learning design look like?
• Why might this be better at motivating participation?
• What could be the issues around implementing this within our context?

With Thanks - Source - http://www.playwarestudios.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Gamification_Infogr.png