Benefits of gamification on learning

As the GDPR deadline approaches, it seems like everyone is talking about what you need to learn and why you need to learn it – but not many people are talking about how you’re expected to learn all of this new information.

This is arguably just as important as the facts behind GDPR, because those heavy fines will apply regardless of how well you understand the legislation.

As an employer, business owner, HR professional, or even just as a colleague – it’s essential you’re doing your part to educate yourself and team-members on how best to understand the GDPR and other legal changes.

How do people learn?

Everyone learns in a different ways, though it’s often said there are 7 key types of learning. These are:

• Visual / spatial – using images and spatial understanding
• Aural / musical – using sound and music
• Verbal / linguistic – using words, in speech and writing
• Physical / kinaesthetic – using the sense of touch
• Logical / mathematical – using logic, reasoning and systems
• Social / interpersonal – working in groups and with others
• Solitary / intrapersonal – self-studying and working alone

People can fit into more than one category, so when you’re educating others it’s important to take different variations into consideration, or develop a “catch all” solution that caters to all learning types.

How games can help learning

To help businesses understand the GDPR legislation and the changes in practice they’ll have to make once the law comes into effect, we’ve launched the Get GDPR Smart App – an innovative and fun way to learn the upcoming regulations.

Designed to cater every type of learner, the app provides a solution that can be scaled to suit different business sizes and their needs.

Given the nature of games, it’s easy to dismiss them as being frivolous or as being unable to get all the facts across. But there are a number of ways games can actually aid in learning, and here are some of the ways how:

• Games are more engaging than regular learning. As game users are working towards an immediate goal (reaching the next level, securing the high score) – they’re more motivated than they would be in traditional learning situations.
• Individuals can approach the game with their own learning style. Whether they complete the levels on their own or as part of a team (social / solitary learning styles) they’re approaching the GDPR facts on their terms and ensuring they have the best learning experience.
• Games encourage learners to become active participants, which in turn improves how effectively they absorb and retain information. As they include interactive elements, games tend to be more immersive than traditional learning experiences.
• Competition is also a key motivator when it comes to learning. The use of leaderboards and high scores encourages friendly competition and an incentive to keep learning and improve.
• Because the knowledge is linked to favourable experience (e.g. winning a game), it’s more likely to be committed to the long-term memory. This is because knowledge absorption and retention is boosted by the blending of endorphins and awareness.
• The best games offer real-world applications for knowledge, allowing users to see the benefits of the GDPR in action, alongside the real-life ways of applying it to a business.
• Games also provide results that are easy to measure and compare, which makes it easy for you to assess how each employee is responding to the training, and which areas you need to concentrate on in future.

How the Get GDPR Smart App works

The Get GDPR Smart App is an online training platform that helps train your employees in a fun and engaging way. Rather than relying on handouts or one-level speeches, you can tackle the GDPR as a team – catering for each type of learner with important insights and active, useful content.

The app also provides vital analytics and actionable insights as to who needs additional training, meaning you can target specific areas of weakness and ensure your team is meeting the GDPR standards.