--- title: The Training Game description: The training game image: https://blog.gomainspring.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/gamification-infographic.jpg --- [![Mainspring, Inc.](https://blog.gomainspring.com/hubfs/MainSpring_June2024/Images/mainspring-logo-cybersecurity-it-services-automation-qjudg0lgsu8o3zserelwpic5pgl0i7mbxusowrykj8.png)](https://gomainspring.com/) [mailto:hello@gomainspring.com](mailto:hello@gomainspring.com) - [About](https://gomainspring.com/about/) - [Our Team](https://gomainspring.com/our-team/) - [Industries](https://gomainspring.com/industries/) - [Partners & Certifications](https://gomainspring.com/partners-certifications/) - [Careers](https://gomainspring.com/careers/) - [Solutions](https://gomainspring.com/solutions/) - [Cybersecurity](https://gomainspring.com/solutions/cybersecurity/) - [ProSuite™](https://gomainspring.com/solutions/prosuite/) - [Automation](https://gomainspring.com/solutions/automation/) - [FileMaker Development](https://gomainspring.com/solutions/filemaker/) - [Apple Device Lifecycle Services](https://gomainspring.com/solutions/apple-services/) - [vCIO](https://gomainspring.com/solutions/vcio/) - [Cost Management](https://gomainspring.com/solutions/cost-management/) - [Support & Help Desk](https://gomainspring.com/solutions/support-help-desk/) - [Case Studies](https://gomainspring.com/case-studies/) - Pricing - [ProSuite™](https://gomainspring.com/pricing/) - [Evolve™](https://gomainspring.com/pricing-evolve/) - Resources - [Blog](https://blog.gomainspring.com/) - [Media Resources](https://gomainspring.com/media-resources/) - [Downloads](https://info.gomainspring.com/resources) - [News & Events](https://blog.gomainspring.com/news) - [Contact Us](https://gomainspring.com/contact-us/) # The Training Game ### Subscribe to Our Blog - [Home](https://gomainspring.com/) - Resources - Blog Topics: [Training](https://blog.gomainspring.com/topic/training), [Productivity](https://blog.gomainspring.com/topic/productivity), [Strategy](https://blog.gomainspring.com/topic/strategy), [Support & Help Desk](https://blog.gomainspring.com/topic/support-help-desk) ![gamification](https://blog.gomainspring.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/gamification-600x172.png?width=600&height=172&name=gamification-600x172.png) Like many people in my generation, much of my knowledge of the westward expansion of the United States came from playing [Oregon Trail](http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/gaming/2015/01/08/oregon-trail-internet-archive/21450885/). I learned all about the pioneers who braved the gruesome journey—but it certainly didn’t come from a book! It came from trying to beat my friends’ high scores before I died from dysentery. Also—I’m pretty sure that playing Oregon Trail was the only reason any middle school-aged kids in small town Texas cared at all about dysentery. It’s safe to say that, even though **gamification** is the new buzzword in training techniques, it has been around for a while. #### Gamification of training Adding gaming elements to a training class—online or instructor-led—encourages student participation, engagement and retention of the material. A [Federation of American Scientists report](http://fas.org/programs/ltp/policy_and_publications/summit/Summit%20on%20Educational%20Games.pdf) from the 2006 Summit on Educational Games found that: "Students remember only 10 percent of what they read; 20 percent of what they hear; 30 percent if they see visuals related to what they hear; 50 percent if they watch someone do something while explaining it; but almost 90 percent if they do the job themselves, even if only as a simulation." Compliance training is a great example of how training can be turned around by making it feel like a game. Often, it’s hard to engage learners when much of the material is dry. Employees balk when they are instructed to take a training course. Because of the loss of time in their work day, they often click through the screens as quickly as possible just to complete the task. In result, they don’t retain much of the information any longer than it takes them to complete the quiz and get their certificate. ![gamification infographic](https://blog.gomainspring.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/gamification-infographic-600x415.jpg?width=600&height=415&name=gamification-infographic-600x415.jpg)An influx of information on a computer screen that provides a simple list of laws and dates isn’t going to lead to higher retention rates. But, if the material is presented in a scenario-based format, and your employees are tasked with solving a problem—say, *how to prevent the loss of classified data*—the time doesn’t feel lost. Your employees will feel better prepared to use that information as they go back to work. Add in a scoring system or a badge that they could earn, and they’re even more likely to go back a second time to better their score (and learn the piece of information they missed the first time through). In 2015, software provider, [Capterra](http://www.capterra.com/) and learning management system, [TalentLMS](http://www.talentlms.com/) teamed up on a [survey](http://www.capterra.com/learning-management-system-software/lms-gamification-research) of learning management system users and instructional designers to investigate the effectiveness of gamification. Their research indicated a positive impact on just about every metric of learner success: - 84% claimed increased student satisfaction - 83% reported their students retained course content better - 80% said their course completion rate improved - 71% noted better student scores on tests and assignments While this research centers around online training, classroom training is no different. Add points or a scoreboard into your learning checks, and see how fast people stop playing Candy Crush and put down their smart phones so they can compete against real, live people. #### When work feels like a game As an eLearning developer, I understood how gamification could improve training, but it wasn’t until I came to MainSpring that I learned how it could affect overall employee engagement as well. You may have noticed that we [introduce our new employees](https://gomainspring.com/news-events/new-draft-class-shaping-up/) as draft picks. But the game doesn’t end there. Some companies issue an employee handbook; MainSpring has **The Playbook**. Our SharePoint site? **The Huddle**. Our Storyteller campaign? We have an honest-to-goodness scoreboard. Speaking from experience, this is the most engaged group of people I’ve ever worked with. I don’t think I’ve spoken with anyone who didn’t really enjoy being a part of this team—or wasn’t clear on how they affect the big picture. Take a look at the people in your organization. Are they having fun? Are they engaged and enjoying their role on the team? …Or are they watching the clock so they can head home? What would your business look like in six months if your employees felt like they were winning? ### About the Author ![Angela Price](https://blog.gomainspring.com/hubfs/APrice-3-250x250.jpg "Angela Price") Angela joined MainSpring in 2015 as a technical writer and e-Learning developer. She specializes in training development and coordination. As an active member of the Association for Talent Development (ATD), Angela stays current on new research and trends in training and employee development. Angela enjoys listening to live music, chauffeuring her sons to activities, baking, reading, and coloring–but ALWAYS inside the lines [More Articles by Angela Price](https://blog.gomainspring.com/author/angela) ### Related Articles ## Getting Started We’ll discuss your business, needs, and expectations to get you on a path to better IT. [Contact Us](https://gomainspring.com/contact-us/) [![Mainspring, Inc.](https://blog.gomainspring.com/hubfs/MainSpring_June2024/Images/mainspring-logo-cybersecurity-it-services-automation.png)](https://gomainspring.com/) [MainSpring, Inc.](https://gomainspring.com/) 8 E. Second Street, Suite 205 Frederick, MD 21701 [301.948.8077](tel:3019488077) [hello@gomainspring.com](mailto:hello@gomainspring.com) © 2026 [MainSpring, Inc.](https://gomainspring.com/) All rights reserved | Designed & Developed by [ONEFIRE](https://onefire.com/) | [Privacy Policy](https://gomainspring.com/privacy-policy/) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Angela Price", "url" : "https://blog.gomainspring.com/author/angela" }, "dateModified" : "2024-05-07T20:30:59.530Z", "datePublished" : "2016-06-13T13:53:24.000Z", "headline" : "The Training Game", "image" : [ "https://blog.gomainspring.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/gamification-infographic.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.gomainspring.com/innovative-ideas/the-training-game", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.gomainspring.com/hubfs/mainspring-logo-cybersecurity-it-services-automation.png" }, "name" : "MainSpring, Inc." } } ```