Twitter:@kkapp

The Engagement Abyss: Three Effective Methods to

Engage Learners

By Karl M. Kapp Professor , Bloomsburg University Author: Gamification of Learning and Instruction

Lynda.com Course: Gamification of Learning

YouTube Channel

Web Site:www.karlkapp.com

Books

Let’s Get Started

What elements are being used to drive engagement?

Karl M. Kapp

Presents:

The Case of the

t was a quiet Monday morning, very quiet, really quiet… almost too…

Then, out of nowhere, she flew into my office, like a boss who had a problem that needed solved …

Hi Boss.

I have a problem that needs to be solved.

We need to decrease the

Learner Abyss.

She wanted to decrease what she called the “Engagement Abyss. ” I called it “Learner Engagement.” She had the MBA—not me.

You came to the right instructional designer that’s

what I do…

Yeah, I know…that’s why I hired you. Ugh..

Now take the new person here and solve this mystery.

For some reason, she didn’t seem bothered by the fact that she was breaking the company’s no smoking policy…

This is where you come in. We’ve got to solve this mystery. Help me figure out the clues …and fast.

Text KarlKapp to 37607 Or PollEv.com/karlkapp

First, take out your text machines.

K a r l K a p p

Choose your disguise…

Stakes are high and time is short.

The news of disengaged learners was spreading

Disengaged Learners are Everywhere

Learning eagLe October 30, 2014 See Section F for Coupons

Investigation Opened By Harry James Las Vegas, NV– It started out as just another normal day. Larry the Learner had just sat at his desk to embark on a learning journey. A journey that turned horrific within only a few moments. The result is unnecessary incident that could and should have been avoided by having the right instructional strategy coupled with the right content.

We need to find Ivan…the Informant...

I knew one of his old haunts…

He was about as friendly as a centipede on crutches.

Hello, Clueless…

Look I am going to ask you some questions, the right answer gives you

a clue to learner engagement.

He was about as friendly as a centipede on crutches.

What do you and your detectives here have to say about this?

What is an often overlooked element of an engaging learning event?

Here, let me show you what I think is a critical element.

He then grabbed his typewriter to show me the key element of engaging learning.

Story—Something has to happen. There must be some action, event or scenario that moves the learner from point A to point B. Something the learner cares about.

Change: Character changes.

Good defeats Evil.

Character faces conflict & triumphs.

Ivan then grabbed his laptop to show me a demonstration.

Now let’s talk about another element of engaging learning.

What is your favorite television show, Detective?

Create Open Loops

Law & Order

Thanks, Ivan.

Get out of here….

This mystery of engaging learning was starting to take shape…

App-termission

Get the Notes/Slides, Artwork & Additional Ideas

www.karlkapp.com/kapp-notes

Now, let’s check in with the boss and see if she has any new clues for us.

Here, I have a clue for you. I found it in my desk drawer….

I arrived at the place on the matchbook, as shady as a supermoon eclipse…

Enter Question Text Hmm…what could this location and clue mean??? Tell me. Does engaging learners start with action or content?

Action draws in the learner and encourages further engagement.

Too often instruction is about the content and not about interacting or engaging with the content. It needs to be about what you

want the learner to do.

Make the learner do something

Answer a question

Identify a procedure.

Make a decision.

Solve a mystery.

Confront a challenge.

Pick a team.

Time for a recap with the boss…she looked a little frantic…she wanted to know one more thing.

I want to know one more thing.

What elements make learning engaging?

What elements did we encounter today that can

engage learners?

Any NOT mentioned so far?

Great stuff, you folks really seemed to have crossed the Engagement Abyss. Really, you

just said that?

I thought my work was done but the boss game me a new pack of matches.

But we’ll have to leave that mystery for another presentation….

What game elements and tools of engagement are used

in this presentation?

1) Story/Genre2) Audience Input3) Questions4) Mystery/Curiosity5) Characters6) Action7) Feedback8) Fantasy

The End

Credits:

Detective Artwork Courtesy of Vanessa Bailey

Typewriter is MS Clip Art

Let’s See All Elements in An e-Learning Example

-Story -Feedback -Choices

Let’s Examine the Elements of Engagement

Storytelling Setting Up PollEverywhere Power and Types of Feedback Taking Notes on Powerpoint Fantasy

Storytelling

1. Characters

Stories Need

2. Plot (something has to happen).

3. Tension

4. Resolution

5. Conclusion

Researchers have found that the human brain has a natural affinity for

narrative construction.

Yep, People tend to remember facts more accurately if they encounter

them in a story rather than in a list.

And they rate legal arguments as more convincing when built into narrative tales rather than on legal precedent.

Carey, B. (2007) this is Your Life (and How You Tell it). The New York Times. Melanie Green http://www.unc.edu/~mcgreen/research.html. Chapter 2 “The Gamification of Learning and Instruction.

Speer, N. K., Reynolds, J. R., Swallow, K. M., & Zacks, J. M. (2009). Reading Stories Activates Neural Representations of Visual and Motor Experiences.Psychological Science, 20(8), 989–999. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9280.2009.02397.x

When a person reads about certain activities in a story, the areas of the

brain associated with those activities are activated.

The research found that different brain regions track different aspects of a story. If the character moved, the

corresponding region of the brain for physical movement became active.

Become a Story Connoisseur—Observe how movie makers, television directors, and novelists craft stories.

Ask to Hear Stories—When debriefing a person providing information for a course, ask for stories illustrating key

points.

Ask Story Questions—Stories follow a structure, ask structured questions around which stories are built.

Fantasy

Sales

Learning Benefits of Fantasy…

Cognitively a fantasy can help a learner apply old knowledge to understand new things and help them remember the content.

Emotionally, a person can connect with the experiences and not bring with it “real-world” concerns or fears. It impacts the Affective Domain.

Sales

Freedom to explore, fail and explore some more.

Feedback

Games like The Sims provide feedback on many dimensions which provide

opportunities to consider tradeoffs and higher level cognitive thinking.

The most helpful feedback provides specific comments about errors and suggestions for improvement. It also encourages learners to focus their attention thoughtfully on the task rather than on simply getting the right answer.

Shute, V. J., Ventura, M., Bauer, M. I., & Zapata-Rivera, D. (2009). Melding the power of serious games and embedded assessment to monitor and foster learning: Flow and grow. In U. Ritterfeld, M. J. Cody, & P. Vorderer (Eds.), Serious Games: Mechanisms and Effects. Philadelphia, PA: Routledge/LEA. 295-321.

Recommendations

• Provide authentic and realistic feedback.

• Feedback should be continuous through out the learning.

• Feedback should be instructional and provide

knowledge of learner’s performance.

PollEverywhere

Write your question, then press <Create>.

Choose type of question, and then

write answers. We are choosing “Multiple

Choice.” Then press <Create>.

Choose response options, rolling over icons provide details about what they do.

You can then test the poll to see if it’s

working.

You can then download your slide to PowerPoint.

In Visual Settings, make sure “Segment Responses” is

enabled.

Choose the first question for Segmentation.

Each question is a “Poll”. You can create a number of polls and group them together for

reporting purposes.

Use a Segmentation Report to determine “winning

team”.

Taking Notes on PowerPoint

http://www.slideshare.net/kkapp/take-notes-right-on-a-powerpoint-slide

Questions…

Lynda.com Course: Gamification of Learning

YouTube Channel

Web Site:www.karlkapp.com

Books