Video Learning Lab

Ep. 1 - Thinking Like a Gamer: Game Design Meets Learning and Development – with Mohsin Memon

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In this episode, Mohsin Memon talks about game design and L&D and his approach to designing engaging experiences in learning and training.  Mohsin is the Founder of Gamitar Learning and the creator of Evvive, The Leadership Game played by leaders at Uber, Deloitte, PwC, Coca Cola, Motorola, Marsh, HSBC, and many more.


Key Takeaways:

  • Gamification fails when designers don't have their own game journey or game experience.


    • Autonomy is the goal of any player that steps into the experience.  The player must understand the elements and "the game" so that they can play – and learn from that experience.


      • Reflection is key to designing impactful learning experiences.  Without it, there is less likelihood that any new learning will transfer to performance.


        • You must design characters that resonate with your audience.  Your audience should be able to view the world through the character's perspective.


          • Feedback and interaction are what make games effective learning experiences.  Games are places for learners to experiment, fail, and apply new knowledge.  


            • The Magic Circle has 3 key elements that are fundamental to the design of games and can reframe how we think about designing experiences.
              1. The player / the learner - who is engaging with your learning?
              2. The toy - the platform, tools, or the elements the player interacts with
              3. The rules - The interaction between 1 & 2


                4. Best Moments:

                "The faster you're able to enable the learner to become active, the more powerful and meaningful that experience will be."


                "To bring the points home, we have to be able to talk about it. Create a dialogue around what happens in a game so that we can learn from that and apply it in the real world."


                "Experimentation plays a big role in game design. Players get to fail, try things out."


                "Consequence is so important for players for them to make a mental shift and generate behavior change. Players need to see that 'I made that choice and it didn't work out for me.'"


                GUEST RESOURCES

                You can follow and contact Mohsin via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohsinmem/

                • Evvive Leadership Game: https://evivve.com/
                • Helpful Takeaway: The Magic Circle and How to Use It 
                • Character builder tools: https://www.rangen.co.uk/chars/pergen.php
                • https://charactercreator.org/
                • Nash's Equilibrium


                  • ABOUT THE HOST

                  Kevin Alster leads the learning team at Synthesia focusing primarily on product education and client services.  With over a decade of experience in education and learning, he has moved from the classroom and into tech to help people create and communicate better through video.  He has been developing enterprise and branded learning solutions in organizations such as General Assembly, The School of The New York Times, and Sotheby’s Institute of Art.


                  CONTACT METHOD

                  • Check out Synthesia Academy
                  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinalster/


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