The quiz show phenomenon in e-learning
Understanding why companies should rely on quiz apps in professional development
Learning by quizzing: are you always looking for entertaining fun facts for your next small talk? We feel the same way. That's why today's E-Learning Punk article starts with a quick question for all the British Royal family fans.
The Queen…
- A: celebrates her birthday twice a year
- B: has already had a little plastic surgery
- C: swears by yoga in the morning
You will get the answer at the end of the article. First of all we want to look at where the interest in quizzes comes from, how companies can make use of them in training and what needs to be considered.
The success of quizzes depends on the mix
Jeopardy and QuizUp are just two well-known quiz examples. Quizzing is simply fun, it activates the reward centre in our brain and provides flow experiences with the right questions. Companies can also take advantage of this and use quiz apps in professional development. The quiz apps combine the advantages of mobile learning and game-based learning.
Various game elements are used, which in combination contribute to the success of the format. Here are the three most important elements of quiz apps:
Avatars
They are used as identification figures. Wonderwomen, Jack Sparrow or Count Dracula - my avatar allows me to present my innermost self or to slip into different roles.
Competition
By competing against other players, my ambition is aroused (fun fact: this is especially true for men, women are usually more reserved). When I play in a group, I feel like I'm part of something bigger. This phenomenon is also described as "epic meaning".
Feedback
If I answer a question correctly, there will be points and I will be promoted to the high score list. If I answer a question incorrectly, there are no points. It's that simple. The feedback is clear, honest and direct.
Quiz apps as a learning tool?
With BizQuiz, IMC also has a quiz app that uses the three elements just described. We evaluated the data of about 100,000 players and came to the result that quiz apps in continuing education are a learning trend that - when used correctly - leads to really amazing success:
Most players play daily - even on weekends. As a result, after just three weeks they know about 1.5 times more than at the beginning.
That makes sense. People are learning by repetition. By repeating something over and over again, it becomes an unconscious competence for me and takes place automatically at some point - like typing with ten fingers or flashing while driving. "We only see limitations when a target group simply has too little basic knowledge for the topic," says Oliver Nussbaum, IMC Managing Director in Austria and quiz master. But here we also have to say, the right mix makes the difference.
Areas of application for quiz apps in companies
Experts use quiz apps at various points of the learning journey and combine the quizzes with other tools such as digital learning cards and classroom training. Sounds complex? Want to know more? Ok, here we go. Quizzes are ideal whenever the level of knowledge needs to be tested or knowledge needs to be consolidated:
Testing the state of knowledge
At the first point of the learning journey, quizzes helps to determine the status of the learners and to discover knowledge gaps. Ideally, the learning content is tailored to the results.
Consolidate knowledge
After face-to-face training or e-learning, quizzes can make a significant contribution to consolidating knowledge. Perfectly suited are quizzes that run over a period of two to three weeks and reward with a real prize at the end.
tips for the use of quiz apps in continuing education
So now we know what elements make quiz apps so successful and at what point in the learning journey quizzing can provide a bit of fun and motivation. Finally, we have a few tips for you to make sure that the quizzes don't miss their effect and you don't get bored:
- Limite the maximum number of games that can be played per day.
- Do not use quizzes in an inflationary way. Instead, use them mainly for topics of strategic importance and with a manageable number of questions.
- Pay attention to the flow channel when creating questions. A good question should not be too difficult, but also not too easy.
- Provide small incentives that have a positive effect on the status of the winner, for example an exclusive meeting with the management board.
- Leave the game as what it is: a game. Not a formal learning measure. Don't force your learners to participate.
The right answer is A, by the way.
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Punky Talk #2: Roman Rackwitz
The second Punky Talk focuses on game-based learning, quiz-based learning and AI . We are hosting Roman Rackwitz, gamification guru and CEO of Engaginglab GmbH.
Roman has been involved in game thinking and gamification since 2007. He has already been named one of the top 10 gamification experts in the world. He describes himself as a naive optimist who rebels against the mindset that gaming were a waste of time. He wants to break down barriers and make games a natural thing, even in a corporate environment.
In the interview with E-Learning Punk moderator Vanessa, he talks about why failure is so important for our personal progress, why content is king but context is god, and why rewards should act as feedback – not bribery.
The interview was recorded live at LEARNTEC 2020 in Karlsruhe (Germany).
Enjoy watching!
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(Note: under "settings", you can turn on the English subtitles for this interview)
The quiz show phenomenon in e-learning
Quiz apps for learning? For sure! We will talk about the success factors of quizzes, introduce areas of application for quiz apps in companies and give you 5 tips for their use in continuing education.
Go for Game-based Learning
We talk about what lies beneath the trend of this playful knowledge transfer method. We explain why it works so well and present 3 application scenarios for learning games in the company.
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Go for Game-based Learning
I feel like James Bond. With dramatic music playing in the background, I find out my mission. I´m in the story. I navigate my way through my surroundings. Talk to different people. Find hidden clues. I get a little bit closer to the solving of my quest…and, by the way, I learn!
”For sure” some people might think who, when remembering their last e-learning, feel far different from the cool and serious James Bond in "Tomorrow never dies". So, it's time to talk about Serious Games.
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Let's get serious: What are Serious Games?
Serious games are games that are not just for entertainment, but for another "serious" purpose - training. Then we also talk about game-based learning, a learning concept in which games are used to impart knowledge.
Now, those who believe that games are only for children and perhaps pubescent teenagers are mistaken. It will certainly astound one or two readers, but the average age of a gamers is 35 years, 21% of all gamers are even over 50.
Serious games are games that are not just for entertainment, but for another "serious" purpose - training.
reasons why playful learning works so well
So, games are also something for adults. So far, so good. But why should companies use them for continuous development? The answer is simple, it simply works well. Here’s why:
- It hits the spirit of the age: Already today about 40% of all workers can be assigned to the so-called generation Y. The children of the 80s and 90s grew up with constant entertainment thanks to the Atari, Sega, and the world wide web. They are looking for challenges and want to have an impact. In playful learning, they are not only entertained, but can also master challenges and actively influence the course of the game.
- It gets hormones firing: Just like a bit of chocolate gives us a dopamine boost, so does playing games. But it’s not just the act itself, it’s the feeling of being rewarded that is crucial for the hormone hit. This feeling arises in games, for example, through increasing points, digital badges and rankings. In addition, there are endorphins, natural stress killers. Ideal conditions for focused learning are created.
- It is relevant for our work: In games we usually find ourselves in an unknown environment without knowing what to do next. What do you do? We get creative, look for solutions, try things out. This prepares us ideally for our everyday work. Even in the real world, we are constantly confronted with new, unknown problems that require a creative solution.
- It keeps us focused: Learning games combine the goal of learning something with an action and interaction possibility with this action. This avoids passivity, we dive into the story and actively influence what is happening – perhaps even come into a real flow, want to learn more and more.
- It is honest and direct: If we do something right in the game, we make a progress and receive points. Mistakes mean the loss of points and/or life. In short: We fail. The feedback is clear - we experience it instead of just reading about it. This leads to a permanent change in behaviour - even off the playing field.
applications of serious games
For those of you that would now preferably send the whole company on a mission but don't know where to start, we have put together three situations in which game-based learning is particularly popular:
Hazard training
Games create a safe environment for employees to practice and learn safe behaviour even in situations that are associated with high costs in real life or can be life-threatening when making wrong decisions.
Onboarding
The first impression counts. While welcome events lasting several days in dull and cold rooms with boring little canapés have a deterrent effect, onboarding games ensure that the first impression is positive.
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Sales training
Sales people are competitive by nature. Serious games with leaderboards give them the chance to compete with their colleagues, acquire complex, technical product knowledge, train sales arguments and deal with difficult customers.
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