How gamified learning can make learning fun for your employees

The neuroscience behind gamification

The reason gamified learning is so engaging and fun for employees is largely because it harnesses our brain chemistry.

The feeling of drive we feel to complete a task is powered by dopamine (known as the ‘happy hormone’), which is released whenever we experience something satisfying. Principles of game playing found in gamified learning are designed to trigger this dopamine response.

Achievements like beating your personal best score, unlocking further gameplay opportunities, or competing – and besting – your co-workers in a game environment can all be very satisfying.

The act of simply playing a game can also bring immediate pleasure. Dopamine neurons are programmed to predict when something satisfying could be on the way. This triggers a dopamine release that makes you feel happier and compels you to get to work when an achievement is in sight.

Naturally, if something is actively providing a positive response in the brain of an employee, they will be more motivated to engage with the content. Given that 68% of Australian play interactive video games, gamified learning is therefore something that your employees may be naturally inclined to.

Gamified learning in the workplace

So what are the key principles that gamification offers to increase employee engagement and enjoyment while learning?

1. Competition

Games are inherently competitive – whether you’re competing against the computer, your own high score or another human being. This is a principle which many gamified learning solutions harness.

For instance, Gamebrain quizzes from Access provide a versus mode which drives employees to best the scores of their co-workers. Not only does this increase replay value – providing a greater opportunity for knowledge to sink in – but also the opportunity for increased person-to-person engagement through friendly competition. This is particularly useful in times of isolation.

2. Happiness

We’ve already discussed how gamified learning harnesses our brain chemistry to make learning more enjoyable. But simply learning in this way, at a time when employees have more time on their hands whilst working from home, can help boost their happiness.

LinkedIn research shows that during the COVID-19 lockdowns which have gripped much of the world and Australia more recently, employees have spent 130% more time developing their knowledge and skills. Many are therefore deriving happiness and satisfaction by simply learning.

 

3. Employee-led learning

This concept, which is baked into many gamified learning solutions, places a focus teaching the skills your employees know that they need right now, rather than those you as an employer believe they need.

In a modern, agile work environment, it’s impossible to understand every challenge that each employee will face day-to-day. Therefore, you can never predict all the training needs and provide prescribed content to match.

Gamified learning solutions like Access Gamebrain empower organisations to create and rapidly deploy their own quizzes on any subject they deem suitable. This, combined with the ‘pick-up-and-play’ nature of the app, means users can gain the knowledge they need, at the exact moment they need it.

How can Access help make learning more engaging for your employees?

In addition to Gamebrain, Access offers a wide range of digital learning solutions that can empower your workforce to acquire the skills they need to boost performance.

The Access learning library includes 1000+ courses, on topics including highly-specialist governance, risk and compliance, health and safety, cyber awareness, legal compliance, and professional development.

Our solutions also give you the ability to produce custom eLearning content. And many of our courses offer the flexibility of online accessibility through a variety of devices.

Discover more about Access digital learning solutions today.