It is like a Workbook- so Practical & Directly Implementable! Surefire Results!

#EMOTIFY!

The Power of the Human Element in Game- Based Learning, Serious Games and Experiential Education!

When a Nerdy Professor @michaeljdsutton and an Ad-Man (cum Salesman) @Kevin_Allen_Author decide to author a Book – the Outcome is well ‘#Priceless!’

I consider myself an expert in #Gamification. I am credited with introducing #Gamification to the field of #KM #KnowledgeManagement. My work, in enterprise-wide engagement through the #KnowledgeOlympics, has been featured as a cover story of ‘@InsideKnowledge’ magazine way back in 2008.  I developed #Games intuitively. I never dwelt much on the theory behind successful #Gamification.

So much to my delight I chanced upon this book #Emotify- The Power of the Human Element in #Game-Based #Learning, #GBL #SeriousGames and #ExperientialEducation!

Short Summary: Honestly! This is THE BOOK to refer to if you have anything to do with #Gamification, #Learning&Development, #L&D  #Game-BasedLearning and #EmployeeEngagement.

What I discovered:  This book is like a tutorial. It may not have been designed as such - but the painstaking efforts put in by both authors in each chapter is amazing.

Every Chapter starts by describing the current scenario. Then the foundation follows-rooted in research- in a very lucid, humorous, and instantly relatable style. So, it is Foundational Research coupled with Business Focus. The next part is interesting – involving the reader (‘#Learner’ in the authors parlance) in the journey to an Insight through a practical activity or action. For example, in Chapter 3 on the ‘Right Approach: Choosing among Excellent Alternatives’ the ‘Learner’ (reader) has to perform 4 Missions.

This book exemplifies the #KeyPrinciple espoused by the Authors – @michaeljdsutton and @Kevin_Allen_Author- Your design needs to be ‘#LearnerCentric’. Step by step the other principles are introduced. I felt like I was on a personal #Quest. I later realized the book is designed that way- the ‘#Learner’ is going through a #Quest! And though this, it also espouses their belief ‘The stealth way of learning is possible’.

For whom is this book? If you are in the field of #AdultLearning #Trainig #LearningandDevelopment (and I may add) #EmployeeEngagement then #Emotify is for you. If you want to break free from the conventional wisdom that ‘Learning is Work, It’s Serious Stuff, and that fun and work are an Oxymoron’ then #Emotify is like a workbook for launching your next serious game, simulation, or Immersive-Learning environment. The Authors promise that the reader will acquire enough knowledge and practical advice to launch their own #Game-Based #Learning # Initiative”. #GBL

@michaeljdsutton has been the pioneer in introducing #Game-Based Learning #GBL. @Kevin_Allen_Author has been at the very top in the advertising world. Both the authors believe that the ‘Human Experience’ is what matters as far as #Learning is concerned. The book is enriched by the smorgasbord from the Advertising world like ‘Need Analysis’, Characters, Storyline, Communications (importance of) and importantly – Management Buy in.

I liked the last chapter about ‘#Tracking and #Evaluating’. Very rarely are #rubrics used to dispassionately present the outcomes of #GBL and #Games. Anecdotal evidence is quoted but leaves room for doubt. The authors have made an attempt but have been honest enough to ask help of the reader!

The #Quest never ends!