wholly engaged in terms of using all the five
senses, like no adverse weather conditions
or real touch! It’s also a return to the
classroom or similar working environment
of the computer and this in itself could be
a major issue – Clark Aldrich, an award-
winning designer of educational simulations,
highly advocates the use of serious games,
yet can see a potential downfall: “As more
and more work becomes virtual, as people
themselves are doing work over the pipes in
The Cotswold’s Conference Centre: The beautiful surroundings for the orienteering course
remote locations I think now we may almost
see a reverse trend [where] training becomes
the one time you get together, one time to
being taken in learning circles? And while situation, test performance, practise new
build trust and connectivity between people,
the ‘fun’ aspect encourages learners to skills, and then take that learning back to
so the whole face-to-face learning becomes
partake and increases learning, it can also the workplace and use it. Like traditional
even more important as it’s probably one
hinder ExL in terms of L&D departments forms of ExL, “there is so much more to
of the only times you’re going to see some
not using it to its full potential. Can games games-based learning than simply using
of your co-workers, and build up a rapport
and simulations now really be added to the fun as a means to engage learners,”
with them.”
list of ExL tools without further damaging explains PIXELearning, a games-based
its reputation? learning company. It also benefits from
The most important factor of all the debates
aspects like offering a safe environment
arising out of this expansion of ExL is that
Serious fun for failure, allowing the user to repeat the
we ensure that the learning outcomes are
So, are these enjoyable learning methods process over and over, and the retention
strong, positive and bring value for money
being taken seriously? Lucy McGibbon rate and learning speeds are high.
rather than merely debating the merits and
explains that the Teamscapes packages
pitfalls of the delivery channel.
carry a nationally recognised and accredited So are games beginning to take over some
Stuart Gray is Director of Stuart Gray
qualification, which “clearly gives credibility of the more traditional forms of ExL?
Associates. He has been designing and
to the time spent having fun”. Robinne
delivering experiential learning events for
Collie agrees that ExL events are valuable “One thing is not going to push the other
over 25 years. info@stuartgrayassociates.co.uk
but that L&D managers and training out,” explains Jay Cross, a leading learning
decision-makers must be educated on their guru in the US. “Games are not going to Adrian Price is Director of Leadership
merits and longer-term learning benefits. replace reality because they do not have
Programmes at MotivAction, which offers
It must be made “business relevant”, the fidelity or depth to do so, but there are
a range of experiential learning activities.
adds Robinne, so that it suits the company opportunities to practise things in virtual
www.motivaction.co.uk
culture and therefore those choosing the worlds (like aeroplane crash simulations)
Lucy McGibbon is HR Director at Sundial
style of training become less cautious that you wouldn’t be able to do at all.”
Group. www.sundialgroup.co.uk
of ExL. Its reputation can certainly be a
hindrance, with some L&D departments And on the other side of the coin learning
Robinne Collie is Managing Director of
spending the budget on enjoyable, team consultant Robin Hoyle believes that it Food@Work. www.foodatwork.co.uk
bonding events rather than team building, can only go so far as a learning tool:
the true facilitator of ExL. It’s hugely “Harnessing the power of games is one
Robin Hoyle is a writer and senior partner
important that L&D departments can thing, but certain skills and interactions
in independent consultancy Learnworks.
distinguish between the two and therefore need real world experience too. I may be
robin@learnworks.net
make informed decisions. able to beat Tiger Woods in an online golf
Mark Oehlert is a Learning Strategy
game on my PC, but it would be a very
Architect and provides leadership and
However, will adding games and different story on the first tee at Atlanta!”
enterprise-level insight on learning-related
simulations to the mix of ExL tools simply Often there is too much focus on the
issues. blogoehlert.typepad.com/about.html
enforce that reputation of ExL as just a “graphics and fancy algorithms while the
little fun and an opportunity to bond? “ExL actual learning messages are given scant Clark Aldrich is an international
is all about playing games. They are already attention” he adds.
consultant, workshop leader, author and
used in ‘live’ exercises that are played,”
award-winning designer of educational
explains Mark Oehlert, a learning strategy Furthermore, there are aspects of traditional
simulations. clarkaldrich.blogspot.com
architect in the serious games field. ExL that are missing such as a facilitator not
Jay Cross is a leading learning guru in
Naturally they would therefore fall into always being present to ensure the reflection
informal learning, web 2.0, and systems
the ExL genre. Serious games are an ExL and feedback aspects of the Kolb learning
thinking. www.jaycross.com
tool as they allow learners to experience a cycle are in place, or learners not being
learningmagazine.co.uk
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