Researchers and Trainers Agree: Game shows are a great way to reinforce learning!

Playing games reinforces learning.

“The idea of embedding academic learning in an entertaining format is centuries old, because it works,” says Eric Jensen in his book The Learning Brain (Turning Point Publishing, 1995). “Creative presentations afford the opportunity for students to reach social, artistic and emotional goals. But more important is the fact that in these contexts, learning becomes more enjoyable. Learners exercise choice and creativity, and there is minimum negative pressure.”

Just like children, adults enjoy playing games. They like to laugh, and they remember information that is tied to strong emotions. When a game is introduced into a serious classroom environment, participants relax, they get excited, they compete and, most importantly, they remember the event and the information tied to it.

What We Do

Most of our training sessions involve very little use of video, extensive use of Power Point presentations, teacher-student interaction throughout the course and in those courses where a written exam is not required by regulation, we use Game Show format customized games to review the material and test understanding. Even in courses where written testing is required by regulation, we use the Game Show style game to review the material prior to the written/practical test.

Stress Relief Reinforces Learning

When training is intensive, games are an immediate way to lower the stress level of students – quite the opposite of looming exams. “Laughter can lower stress and boost alertness,” says Dr. Norman Cousins in the book Anatomy of an Illness.

“A game show is a stress-free and fun way to learn that doesn’t diminish the importance of the subject matter,” says Sam Elfassy, program developer of the Air Crew training department for Canadian Air Lines in Toronto. “If they are always under stress, the information never reaches their thinking brains.” By using game shows instead of traditional quizzes, the stress is removed and learning is maximized, he says.

Why Games Work!

Teamwork is Reinforced!

“They have to work together as a team to win the game,” says Sam Elfassy, program developer of the Air Crew training department for Canadian Air Lines in Toronto, “and that’s part of what I’m teaching.”

“It’s a different way to learn, it’s an informal learning environment,” says Dr. Jon Ebbert, chief medical resident of the Rochester, MN-based Mayo Clinic.

“It’s a matter of pride to win the game when you are part of a team,” says Melody Davidson, training manager for McDonald’s Corp. in Seattle. “Students don’t want to look bad, and they don’t want to let their teammates down. It gives them an incentive to work harder.” “And,” adds Carla Kaufman, applications knowledge specialist for Lawson Software in St. Paul, “it’s amazing how a little friendly competition get event the quiet ones to speak right up.”

Teachers See What’s Being Missed

Students aren’t the only ones who benefit from games in the classroom. We use it to figure out what parts of our courses need adjusting and what topics need to be reviewed.

“It helps me figure out what students are learning and what they are missing,” says Melody Davidson, training manager for McDonald’s Corp. in Seattle. “I go back and tweak the course content if there are certain questions that are regularly missed.”

Attendance goes up, and people talk about the training long after it’s over.

“I have people who come to class excited to play Jeopardy because they heard about it from someone else who’s taken the training,” says Davidson.

YOU’LL NEVER GET THAT KIND OF EXCITEMENT ABOUT AN END-OF-CLASS EXAM!