My Experience and Learnings from #play14 KL

#play14 is a global assembly of like-minded individuals who believe that playing is the most effective way to learn, share, and foster creativity. I had the privilege of attending one of its editions held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from November 17 to 19, 2023. The conference was truly remarkable, and I'd like to share my brief observations and the valuable insights I gained from this experience.

Keeping it Simple and minimal

For a two-and-a-half-day conference with seven fulfilling meals, the registration fee was 500 MYR. They even offered a 20% discount, bringing it down to only 400 MYR (approximately INR 7500 or under 100 USD). If you've ever organized an event, you might wonder how this was even possible. Let me share the story.

The primary expense was renting the venue and providing food. One of the organizers, Wan Fadzil Adlan Wan Sidik , resides in an apartment with a multi-purpose hall and a smaller room. That's it; the venue was sorted. It wasn't a luxurious 5-star hotel with special furniture; instead, it was a simple hall with regular plastic chairs, and that was more than sufficient. The food was prepared by a local caterer who delivered authentic Malaysian cuisine with love. That being said, the conference could have easily avoided the use of plastic water bottles.

Not so surprisingly, the conference had no projectors, no microphones—just a small speaker, possibly borrowed by Wan—and some sticky notes and flip charts. That's all. Additionally, they provided a nice and simple #play14 t-shirt for everyone.

In a unique twist, this conference featured chief mentors and organizers all wearing shorts. Instead of the typical suits and formals, participants enjoyed the comfort of t-shirts and track pants throughout the day. However, don't mistake it for a casual conference. It was a friendly event with serious learning happening all around but in a very comfortable, friendly, and safe space. One day, while sharing how I managed to pack all my dresses and games in a small cabin suitcase, Ricardo Fernandes the event mentor who flew in from Portugal, told us that he traveled to Malaysia with just a backpack. He embodied minimalism, and we were delighted to have him as our beloved mentor.

Harnessing the Wisdom of the crowd

This event is an unconference, meaning there's no agenda, no pre-fixed speakers, and no scheduled sessions. Following the principles of Open Space Technology, participants come together, and the day's sessions are planned by the participants, for the participants, during a 30-minute marketplace gathering at the beginning of each day.

Throughout the conference, there was no hierarchy between the organizers and participants. Right from the energizer activity, everything was participative. Anyone could take center stage to experiment, even in critical activities like running the marketplace, where participants were given the opportunity to lead. Everyone owned the event, and each person felt like both the organizer and the participant.

This was a conference that induced a clear sense of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) as impactful sessions were happening in parallel. Additionally, if you missed a session, you could request the host to repeat it the next day. This happened during #Play14, specifically for the Pizza Game, an engaging and insightful session hosted by Shahrir Asri . If we look at this from the perspective of numbers, with three parallel sessions at any given time, a host misses an opportunity to attend a session by hosting one. However, in the case of a repeat session, a host misses out on two sessions. Yet, Shah graciously agreed to do so, exemplifying the spirit of the community. Even informally, numerous game hosts ran repeat sessions based on requests during breaks and after the day's official sessions.

Drinking is not the only way to have fun.?

This conference stands out as an event where the party atmosphere isn't synonymous with drinks, and I genuinely appreciated that aspect. I found more enjoyment here than at any other conferences I've attended.

Last year, I participated in an event where the participants were considered to be super cool. All registered participants were given a beer token, with no alternative provided. The event drew attendees, including first-year college students who are probably well below the age of 18. When I questioned the organizers about this approach, especially considering the idea of making drinking a casual thing, they argued that participants could simply decline if they weren't interested. While the concept of self-control is valid, it raises the question: must drinking be the default measure of having fun and being perceived as cool?

Sharing is Growing

Game-based learning is widely recognized as one of the most impactful methods, and organizations are actively seeking such innovative learning approaches. Despite the increasing demand, there are relatively few serious game-based learning practitioners globally. In a world often perceived as competitive, it's heartening to be part of a global community that believes in the idea that sharing leads to growth.

During the #Play14 conference, all the game experts willingly shared insights about their games and exchanged best practices. This community is already achieving remarkable results, and I anticipate it will continue to do so in the years to come. Each participant shared one or two games, resulting in a valuable exchange where everyone received, as a return gift, knowledge on more than 15+ games and much more.

Learnings from the Games I played

I had the opportunity to play close to 15+ games over those two and a half days. These games spanned various forms, including energizers, ice-breakers, serious games, and business simulations. I am eager to delve into each of them in detail, spotlighting key insights and demonstrating how you can incorporate them into your own sessions and I will write about them sometime later.

Thank you and a huge shout out to the organizing team Wan Fadzil Adlan Wan Sidik Sufiz Mohd Suffian Syahrul M. Azmi Raziah Md Razak and the mentor Ricardo Fernandes for making #play14 KL a memorable one.