Group Learning
All Reality Check training games are developed to be played as individuals or teams.
As most learners will not have any great experience of game learning, they can be reticent when first confronted with the concept. Put them into teams though, in competition with other teams and reticence goes out the window. They want to win.
Having said that learners may not have any experience of the concept, it is likely that many of the trainer/assessors may not have had any experience either. The success of the game can rely as much upon the trainer/assessor as it does upon the game or the learner. (Nothing new here!)
That is why organisations purchasing the game can send one trainer/assessor to a 3 hours familiarisation session free of charge. Others can attend for a fee of £45 per person.
During the session trainer/assessors will:
- Learn how to adapt the game to fit in with the learner’s needs, the environment and the time allowed.
- Learn how to motivate players to contribute fully by encouraging and controlling debate, discussion and opinion.
- Learn how to establish their gaming objectives and adapt the game accordingly.
- Learn how to analyse the performance of each player in terms of his or her contribution towards the learning goals.
- Learn how players can use the games to learn from each other.
- Learn how the games can contribute towards basic literacy and numeracy skills
- Learn the part that games can play towards diversification of delivery.
Game learning is nothing new – if you are over 45!
Back in the 60’s and 70’s, game learning was usually the only alternative to traditional classroom delivery, since then of course, e-learning has taken over.
One cannot doubt the potential of e-learning but one cannot get away from the fact that it is still very much an insular and isolated form of learning that in the workplace is still only accessible by a few.
Game learning is the antithesis of e-learning. It is not reliant upon expensive hardware, can never breakdown and it works at all levels.
Game learning is the difference between getting learners to turn up and getting them to go home – it's F A N T A S T I C
Real Learning
One of few criticisms of game learning is that it isn’t really learning at all, it more of an assessment process than a learning process.
Well, first of all, thank you for pointing out that it is an assessment process – probably one of the most effective there is – BUT IT IS ALSO A LEARNING PROCESS.
Reality Check games paint a picture in the mind. As far as possible they allow players to create an image of their own real work environment when addressing issues and answering questions.
Answers are required based upon previous performance and good practice in an environment where that performance and good practice can be challenged and improved upon; where those challenges and improvements can be taken back to the workplace and, if appropriate, adopted.
Underpinning knowledge is the foundation stone of performance, the bigger we build – the better the performance. Reality Check is about underpinning knowledge but it is more about improving performance – that’s REAL LEARNING.