Fun as a strategic advantage: applying lessons in engagement from commercial games to military logistics training
July 1, 2022
Journal Article
Author:
Published in:
Train., Educ., Learn. Sci., Vol. 59, 2022, p. 180-7.
Summary
Digital games offer many elements to augment traditional classroom lectures and reading assignments. They enable players to explore concepts through repeat play in a low-risk environment, and allow players to integrate feedback given during gameplay and evaluate their own performance. Commercial games leverage a number of features to engage players and hold their attention. But do those engagement-improving methods have a place in instructional environments with a captive and motivated audience? Our experience building a logistics supply chain training game for the Marine Corps University suggests that yes; applying lessons in engagement from commercial games can both help improve player experience with the learning environment, and potentially improve learning outcomes.