How can you create engaging decision-making games using SCORM?

1 What are decision-making games?

Decision-making games are a type of e-learning activity that present learners with a realistic scenario, a problem to solve, or a goal to achieve. They require learners to make choices based on the information provided, and to face the consequences of their actions. Decision-making games can simulate real-life situations, such as customer service, sales, or emergency response, or they can be fictional, such as adventure, mystery, or fantasy. Decision-making games can be linear, where learners follow a predetermined path, or branching, where learners can explore different outcomes and paths.

2 Why use decision-making games in e-learning?

Decision-making games can enhance your e-learning courses in several ways. First, they can increase learner engagement and motivation, as they provide a challenge, a feedback, and a reward. Second, they can improve learner retention and transfer, as they allow learners to apply their knowledge and skills in a meaningful context, and to learn from their mistakes. Third, they can develop learner autonomy and critical thinking, as they encourage learners to make decisions based on logic, evidence, and ethics. Fourth, they can measure learner performance and progress, as they provide data on learner choices, scores, and completion.

4 What are the benefits of using SCORM for decision-making games?

Using SCORM for decision-making games can bring many advantages, such as compatibility, interoperability, and reusability. SCORM ensures that your decision-making games will run on any SCORM-compliant LMS, regardless of vendor, version, or platform. Additionally, SCORM enables the exchange of data between your decision-making games and the LMS, allowing you to track learner performance and progress. Finally, SCORM allows you to reuse your decision-making games as standalone content or part of a larger course. This means you can save time and resources while creating more engaging e-learning content.

5 How to make your decision-making games more engaging using SCORM?

Creating decision-making games using SCORM is not enough to ensure learner engagement. To make your decision-making games more appealing, relevant, and meaningful for your learners, you need to align them with your learning objectives and outcomes, and make them clear and measurable. Additionally, use realistic and relatable scenarios, characters, and dialogues that reflect the needs, interests, and experiences of your learners. Provide multiple choices that challenge their knowledge, skills, and attitudes, with both positive and negative consequences. Immediate and constructive feedback should also be given to explain the outcomes of the choices and guide learners to improve their decision-making skills. Multimedia elements such as images, audio, video or animations can be used to enhance the games and appeal to different learning styles. Lastly, gamification elements like points, badges, levels or leaderboards can be added to motivate learners and reward their achievements.