Dr. Kapp’s Presentation a Big Hit at Recent E-learning SIG Meeting July 24, 2012

Gamification may sound like something that can be purchased for the X-Box 360 or Playstation 3, but according to Dr. Karl Kapp, it is an area that most instructional designers should focus more efforts on when designing interactive training. Dr. Kapp shared his wonderful insights at a recent ASTD e-learning SIG event on July 19 at the LaSalle campus in Plymouth meeting.

Dr. Kapp’s exciting interactive presentation focused on the effectiveness of today’s technology for changing learner behaviors. Dr. Kapp, a professor of instructional technology at BloomsburgUniversity and author of The Gamification of Learning and Instruction, discussed the use of 3D avatars to change learner behaviors; how playing a video game changes a person’s behavior and how storytelling helps learners memorize facts.

You can view Dr. Kapp’s presentation at his blog located here:

http://www.uleduneering.com/kappnotes/index.php/2012/07/astd-philadelphia-presentation-resources-2/

The Learning Game: What Research Tells Us about Games, Gamification and Immersive Learning with Karl Kapp July 6, 2012

Program Description:

This decidedly unacademic presentation provides a broad scientific overview of what we know from research about the effectiveness today’s technology for changing learner behaviors. Presented as an interactive game, we will discuss the use of 3D avatars to change learner behaviors; we will consider how playing a video game changes a person’s behavior and how storytelling helps learners memorize facts.

In an interactive game format, you will answer questions like:  Are two avatars better in an e-learning module than one? Does the appearance of an avatar impact the person when they’ve finished working with the avatar? Do serious games have to be entertaining to be educational? This engaging, exciting session shows you how to use the existing research literature in your own design and delivery of online learning. You will be provided with tips and techniques for matching research findings to your own e-learning design. Join us for a fun, fact-filled evening of research, games and learning.

About the Speaker:

Karl Kapp is a professor of instructional technology at Bloomsburg University in Bloomsburg, PA and is the author behind the widely read “Kapp Notes” blog and a regular contributor to ASTD’s “Learning Circuits” blog. Karl has written five books on the convergence of learning and technology. His latest book co-published with ASTD is called The Gamification of Learning and Instruction and it is this book where much of the material for this presentation is discussed in detail. In his Gamification book, Karl explores the research and theoretical foundations behind effective game-based learning. He examines everything from variable reward schedules to the use of avatars to the use of games to teach pro-social behaviors. Karl is committed to helping organization’s develop a strategic, enterprise wide approach to organizational learning.  He believes that effective education and training are the keys to increased productivity and profitability. He can be reached at www.karlkapp.com.