Designing Digitally, Inc. is happy to announce our attendance at the Devlearn Conference & Expo 2013 - to be held this year in beautifully sunny Las Vegas, October 23-25! You’ll find us in Booth #309!   We are excited to have the privilege of sharing examples of customized learning games and simulations with you, including some of our 2013 work AND our Recycle Roundup game using Leap Motion Technology!   Visit Booth 309 to play for your chance to win a $100 Amazon.com gift card at the following times:   Wednesday, October 23 12:30 - 1:00pm (during lunch) 2:30 - 2:45pm (during dessert & beverage break) 5:15 - 6:00pm (during Welcome Reception) Thursday, October 24 10:15-10:30am (during beverage break) 11:30 - 12:15pm (during lunch) 2:30-2:45pm (during dessert and beverage break)   We’re also very excited that this year our President, Andrew Hughes, will be speaking on Thursday, October 24, 2013 1:15 PM - 2:15 PM on Gamification vs. Game-based Learning. This is a session you won't want to miss! This session will focus on clarifying the differences between gamification and game-based training along with examples of each.   Check out the information below to be sure you’re ready: Download the DevLearn 13 app here! Review the schedule for DEVLEARN13 Follow us on Twitter and follow hashtag #DEVLEARN for conference news and updates! Like us on Facebook for updates on who is in the lead in our Recycle Roundup Leap Motion Game!   If you are not able to attend the DevLearn 2013 conference in Las Vegas, we invite you to visit our website to see some of our latest and greatest work!

E-Learning allows your company to train employees in the most efficient manner, enabling them to have the most current and necessary information to perform their jobs well. Creating an E-Learning training module that is not only engaging but also effective is one of the most important aspects to staff training. While it may seem easy to come up with a training packet, there are various questions that should be asked and steps that must be taken in order to ensure you are providing employees with all the necessary information. E-Learning has reshaped the way companies and businesses operate, as it allows them to create a system that is accessible 24/7. Gone are the days of scheduling a training meeting once a month or year; E-Learning promotes continuous learning and the opportunity for employees to revisit the information as often as they need. Many of us struggle with retaining all the necessary information upon first lesson, which is why E-Learning is so innovative and such a wonderful concept for employee training exercises. Whether you have someone just looking for a refresher on a particular module or an employee who would like to build upon what they learned, E-Learning modules gives them constant access. The key to successful E-Learning is to know your learners. You simply cannot develop a working online training module if you do not know and understand your learners' background or style of learning. By taking the time to educate yourself on who your employees or learners are and how they best respond to the various training methods, you are setting yourself up for success. This will also promote an environment where employees stay engaged and comprehend all the necessary information, instead of just having information thrown at them in a less appealing manner. Questions to Ask Learners   How familiar are your employees with online learning? Dependent upon various factors, your employees may have never participated in an E-Learning training. It is important to be aware of all levels of familiarity before developing a training module. How much time will each training module take? It is a good idea to ask your employees how long they think each module will take them to complete; this will give you a better idea if you need to break one module into two, etc. Do your employees speak different languages? If your employees are bi- or multilingual you may need to include various examples and content that will ensure they have all the necessary information to gain an in-depth understanding of the subject matter. How and where will your employees complete the module? This includes what devices or technologies they will be using, when they have access to said devices, and if they will be sitting at a computer to complete the training or doing it on-the-go. This may dictate your content and help you decide whether or not you are going with a more involved model or straightforward questionnaire. It is imperative for you to customize your training module to your learners and employees in order to ensure they are getting the most out of it. Keep in mind that not everyone learns the same and not everyone comes from the same background. Providing employees with well-planned and developed training modules will help them to be better employees and retain all the critical information you are giving them. For more information on how to create an effective learning experience contact Designing Digitally, Inc. today!  

On those rare days when we’re in between development projects with clients and not sprucing-up our new office HQ, we like to surf the Web and see what’s happening out there in the wider world regarding our industry. It’s definitely an exciting time in the realm of serious games - business and education experts are really starting to "get it" about the value of these tools for training and inculcating procedural protocols and best practices in many fields. The fact that we’re reaching a tipping point of sorts where "computer literate" workers outnumber those without that skillset is a very good thing. As younger workers continue to join the workforce, "digital games literacy" will become status quo as well - these employees moving forward will be the ones who will benefit greatly from the safe, controlled, consistent teaching & training inherent in serious games. Meanwhile, a cursory search of the Web found plenty of interesting material about the development and uses of serious games in different industries. Here are three we found particularly fascinating. Video Games for ADHD Students in Finland Ville Tapio runs a private psychiatry center in Helsinki, Finland and has been addressing the concern of many doctors about giving child patients drugs to control attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Instead, Dr. Tapio is getting his patients to play video games that can actually change how their brains work, using a technique known as gamified neuroplastic therapy. The fact that the wildly popular online game, Angry Birds, originated in Helsinki may have given them some understanding of the potential with video games. As the article on MOTHERBOARD reports, "… using games to change people’s brains for health reasons is an ambitious and relatively new concept. Still, Helsinki has the scientists and the gaming companies—Angry Birds developer Rovio is just one—to give the idea a proper look. Now, researchers also have cash: Tapio's company Mental Capital Care received 790,000 euro in funding from Finnish investment board Tekes last year to test out a game designed to cure the symptoms of ADHD." A great idea is born and we wish Dr. Tapio the best of success, especially since this research could help a lot of young people who have trouble learning in conventional settings. Learn more about DR. Tapio’s work by following this link. Can Serious Games Reinvent Businesses? We found this intriguing interview with Luke Hohmann - the founder of Conteneo and creator of Knowsy® - on the Business 2 Community website. Hohmann discusses using serious games to solve business problems such as figuring ROI for investments, and how such game-playing engages teams and encourages teamwork in a way that’s never really happened before in the business world - right down to the chemical level in our brains. As Hohmann explains it to B2C, "A serious game is a game that we play to solve a business problem as opposed to any other kind of game typically played for entertainment purposes …When I play a serious game, I’m trying to solve some kind of a business problem like managing a complex sale or developing a product-marketing plan …The reason serious games are becoming so popular is because we’re learning that when people are playing games, their brain is literally in a different state. When you’re playing a game like Angry Birds, tiny amounts of dopamine are released every time you achieve the next level in the game or create a new high score. This dopamine, in turn, makes you happy and motivates you to play more - achieve the next level, reach a new high score …Our collaborative games-based approach to making these choices leaves you and your entire team feeling energized because in the game you can explore both ROI and non-ROI factors to selecting your social media investments. When you achieve the goal, you’re going to feel great about the result, because along the way the game will induce your brain to release some dopamine while you’re playing." Talk about positive reinforcement! And yes, that was the second and final reference to Angry Birds in this blog post, we promise. Read more on the interview with Mr. Hohmann on the B2C website here. Forbes Online Announces that the Future of Education Is Already Here - with Serious Games Who’d have thought that the founder of Atari, Inc. AND Chuck E. Cheese Pizza Time Theaters would also wax philosophic about the future of education incorporating technology, although one could argue that there’s a connection between Nolan Bushnell’s past work with video games and pizza hang-outs for kids with his latest endeavor - Brainrush, makers of learning games for students and teachers. Bushnell’s visionary stance is that technology tools such as laptops and notebooks in schools can help kids at all levels of learning to enjoy their lessons more fully, and that serious games have a role to play not only in content provision but in actually making the learning mind work differently. As he explains to Forbes, "The essence of what’s going on now is the adoption of brain science …It turns out that if you teach in a different way, you can get outcomes that are 10-20 times more efficient and stickier …One of the key factors is here is the adoption of brain science. Getting it involved in the curriculum is massively effective. Not by 20%, not by 50%, but by many multiples of educational efficacy," says Bushnell. "This is on a trajectory right now that is unstoppable by bureaucracy, but unions, by anything. It’s just going to happen." Bushnell also sees the rise of affordable, ubiquitous hardware for schools, easier network connectivity, and pressure on schools to once-again produce graduates with actual job skills as important factors in the equation. Read more about Nolan Bushnell and serious games for the future of education here. We hope you’ve enjoyed this quick tour around the Internet concerning serious games. Come back and visit us again - we promise to have more scintillating reading material for you to enjoy. And yes, Designing Digitally, Inc. also designs and creates custom serious games for businesses and educational institutions of all types. Contact us if you’d like to learn more.

Regardless of the industry, an efficient and effective sales team is imperative to the overall success of the company. From big corporations to small businesses, the growth and retention of clients is more dependent on sales than ever before. Today's society is centered around a seemingly "on-demand" selling environment, meaning the front line of a company, or the sales team, is all the more important to coming out on top. While the responsibilities of the sales team may differ from company to company, they all have the same goal in mind: drive revenue and increase company growth. Because sales team professionals are such an integral part of a company sinking or swimming, it is essential to have an effective training system in place. There are a handful of factors that contribute to whether or not a company is just barely staying afloat, failing, or having great success. . In addition to working to decrease expenses, it is essential to assemble an effective and well-trained sales team. Sales professionals serve as the image of a company, as they are the ones out in the public eye. There are many different philosophies when it comes to sales training methods, but it is first important to understand what sales training areas should be addressed in order to produce a cream of the crop sales team: Business skills training - this includes understanding customers' needs and financial awareness Product training - making sure your team is well-versed in new releases and newly acquired products is essential Sales methodology training - keeping your sales team in the loop with both new and old procedures Sales skills training - this covers negotiating, presenting, and questions Tools training - making sure your sales team is comfortable and familiar with the latest technologies and marketing resources is key   In addition to understanding the various types of training that should be addressed, it is a good idea to educate yourself on which topics within your training program are more important than others. It is a good idea to decide which topics you would like to place more emphasis on and which you think can just be touched on. With this, it should be noted that the companies that are the most successful are those who have a high level of understanding of all company products and services as well as impressive customer service skills. Tips for Creating Effective Sales Training Understanding what needs to be covered and why it should be taught is only a small part of leading an effective sales training seminar. How the information is relayed is perhaps the most essential piece of the puzzle, as you must keep people engaged, interested, and active in order to truly make a difference.   Other sales training tips include: Motivate and engage - because sales training content is often not the most exciting material, it is imperative to keep the sales team engaged, involved, and excited Problem solving - beyond giving a sales team the tools to be successful in selling products and bringing in new clients, you must also provide them with the skills to solve any problem that may come up during the sale as well as before and after No man left behind - one of the biggest mistakes companies make with sales training is to single out one group of people, e.g. newbies or veterans. It is important to always include all team members for any type of training; not only will this build team morale, but it will serve as a refresher for those who have been with you for awhile Up to date and relevant material - always make sure you are training your team on the most relevant and current material. This can be hard because of the ever-changing business environment, but you will not succeed if you are teaching outdated material   Keeping in mind the above tips and having an understanding of what goes into a successful sales training is imperative to the overall success and growth of your business. Because your sales team is such an integral part of your company's performance, it is important to provide them with the tools and training to represent your business to the best of their ability.

Designing Digitally, Inc. Partners with Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) to Develop an Interactive 3D Simulation on the Effects of Stress on the Body. Using HTML5 and 3D, Designing Digitally, Inc. will craft a unique simulated experience which guides students through the body’s reactions to stress. Designing Digitally, Inc., a full-service interactive design company, has partnered with Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) in Cuyahoga County to create an interactive 3D simulation utilizing HTML5 that will allow learners to see how stress affects the body. This project will give students the opportunity to visualize and interact with the chain of reactions initiated by stress in various organs and organ systems throughout the body. Thanks to the capabilities of HTML5, the simulation is accessible to students working with iPhones, iPads, and other mobile devices. This makes the learning experience not only innovative and engaging but also convenient for users. Danielle Budzick, Director of Innovative Learning Design & Quality at Cuyahoga Community College, spearheaded this effort in collaboration with the team at Designing Digitally, Inc. Regarding the project, Danielle stated, "This project began as an opportunity to partner with our faculty to create an engaging, innovative learning object to support student success in one of our highest enrollment courses - Anatomy and Physiology." The simulation will be piloted by the subject matter experts and faculty participating in the project to understand the impact on a subset of Tri-C students. Cheryl Knight, an Instructional Designer at Cuyahoga Community College and the Tri-C Project Manager shared, "We at Tri-C are looking forward to launching the simulation and seeing the positive impact it has on the students' learning experience." Nick Taylor, Director of Development at Designing Digitally, Inc., remarked that they "...partnered to create this faculty-driven 3D simulation based on student feedback about topics in the course needing greater visual demonstration. The use of 3D gaming enables us to simulate multiple stress-related situations in real time and allows the learner the chance to experience the internal effects of stress on the body." About Designing Digitally, Inc.: Designing Digitally, Inc. is a full-service interactive design firm and serious game developer. Located in Franklin, Ohio, Designing Digitally, Inc. has developed a number of serious games and simulations, virtual worlds, and E-Learning solutions for companies around the country and the globe. Designing Digitally Inc.’s overall goal is to add value to the clients that they serve by creating engaging, educational, and entertaining learning solutions. About Cuyahoga Community College: Cuyahoga Community College provides high quality, affordable education and programs to more than 900,000 people. With four campuses and numerous other locations, Tri-C serves more than 55,000 credit and non-credit students annually in more than 1,000 credit courses in over 140 career and technical programs and liberal arts curricula. Tri-C partners with regional businesses to provide cutting-edge training and solutions to enhance workforce development in Northeast Ohio. Over 85 percent of Cuyahoga Community College graduates stay and work in Northeast Ohio.

Today's society is centered on a blend of technologies that enhance our learning capabilities in a multitude of ways. Collaborative learning and experiential stimulation are promoted through various inquiry-based learning tools, and they are helping to break down and cross barriers between learners, distance, and time. E-Learning tactics include a mixture of instructional media, guidance and coaching, task analysis, and more availability and access than ever. One of the keys to developing a successful E-Learning project is to create a learning culture that will stretch beyond the normal parameters, encouraging learners to stay involved and share what they know. A wonderful aspect to this new-wave model of learning is that there are no limitations. However, in order to be successful, it is imperative you have a plan of action and an established program. The implementation of an E-Learning project can be daunting and overwhelming, but you will have a better handle on the entire project and outcome if you make a point to educate yourself on some of the known keys to success. You undoubtedly will want to get all the kinks out and do your best to prevent major problems or hiccups down the road, which is why it is never a bad idea to strategize and take note of a handful of tips for getting started. Regardless of your type of business or industry, self-paced E-Learning projects that are engaging and effective can be difficult, but they can also be extremely rewarding and useful. Take a look at the following key points for starting up your own E-Learning project. They will help give you a bit of guidance and steer you toward success.   Keys to a Strong E-Learning Model   Know Your Goals The first step to developing a strong E-Learning project is to outline and understand your end goals. Clearly defining your goals will help you stay on track and have a more focused view as you get further into the process. As you begin to define your training needs, hire on a staff, and work to provide learners with a quality project, your beginning goals will help guide you. Determine Your Training Needs Similar to the first key, it is important that you have a clear idea of what your actual training needs are. It may be a good idea to run a thorough analysis to better determine what material to include as well as how to organize your tasks and concepts. Bring in Talent Once you have a clear vision of your goals and needs, you will need to either appoint people within your company or recruit talented outside individuals to help run the project. The people you bring on should understand your goals and be able to manage the entire project. Roles may include instructional designer, subject matter expert, video specialist, analyst, program lead, etc. Regardless of the size of your company, these roles will need to be adequately filled. Choose and Stick With a Platform Another of the keys to running a successful E-Learning project is selecting a platform. It is best to choose one and stick with it. This will keep you from getting confused down the line and better allow your learners to become comfortable with the system. Know Your Budget It is best to have a budget in place before you launch and get too deep into your project. This will give you an idea of what tools you will be able to use and how long you can afford to keep the project up and running. Quality Control It is important to maintain the overall quality of your project throughout its lifespan. This means appointing someone who thoroughly understands what quality assurance is and what your goals for the project are. This role may include creating new courses, fixing program bugs, and installing updates. A successful and strong E-Learning project can benefit your company and employees in many ways, as long as it is done correctly. Having a set of goals laid out and putting the appropriate people in charge are just two of the many important aspects that you must think of before getting started. Additionally, it is important for you to develop a program that is not only applicable to all participants, but also is respectful of different backgrounds and learning styles. E-Learning training models are an excellent way for you to utilize many of today's technologies and the above tips will help you reach your project's full potential.

Too often, employees react to mandatory training as an unwelcome obligation heaped on to an already demanding workload. But it doesn't have to be that way. Whether your company requires training on customer service standards or workplace ethics, employees can be motivated to learn when they are challenged, surprised, and, yes, entertained. To help you create training that keeps employees interested and learning, Designing Digitally, Inc. offers these six tips: Create a strong theme and an even stronger narration When creating a theme and a script for your training program, grab employees’ attention and surprise them. Incorporating pop culture references or even inside company jokes adds an unexpected twist to the material. One of the fastest ways to turn off participants is by reciting a list of tips in a dry, monotonous tone. Make the content lively and you'll be amazed at how employees react. Focus on the learner Tailor the message to the employees you want to reach. Motivate employees to want to learn by making the content relevant, compelling, and challenging. Vary the outcomes Often employees are required to repeat mandatory training every year. To keep employees interested, it's important to create dynamic content that offers different outcomes depending on the path the user chooses. Yes, this is more work for the developer. But in this way, employees repeating the course continue to have opportunities to learn rather than just review the same static material. Engage to enlighten Interactivity is a must to create interest and motivate a learner. Encourage active participation through mini-games and dynamic interactions with varying end results depending on the employee's actions. Try to avoid true/false or multiple-choice questions. These test-based, rote forms of learning are less likely to engage employees. Let form follow function Avoid focusing more on looks than content. Make sure you have a strong theme, learning objectives, and outcomes prepared before doing any graphical work. Function, then form is the best approach. In this way, you can make sure you cover what to teach first. Then you can refine how it is taught and give the training the "beauty mark" it deserves. Make it competitive and social Incorporate gamification into training modules in the form of badges, points, or bragging rights. Competition and rewards provide employees with a greater a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction when the course is completed. Finding ways to make mandatory training engaging and challenging takes some thought and effort. But the results are well worth it. With a focused theme, dynamic interactivity, and a bit of competition, mandatory training can become a more valuable, satisfying learning experience for employees. And they might even have some fun while they're at it. For assistance in making your training fun contact Designing Digitally, Inc. today!

Designing Digitally has been creating game-based learning and training tools for years, and we’re always eager to share advances in the world of gamification with our fans. Recently, motion-sensing technology has started to make its appearance in game-based training programs, and the possibilities that these new movement-based applications have introduced are really exciting. For those of you who aren’t familiar with game-based learning (also known as gamification or Serious Games), it’s essentially a more effective method of training that incorporates interactive web training modules. When you combine game-based learning with traditional lecture-based training, it increases participant interest and makes the whole process more enjoyable. Motion-sensing technology, though, is making game-based training even more effective and engaging. You are probably already familiar with motion-sensing technology, because of its popularity in mass-market game consoles like the Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360 and Kinect. And while the technology is still in development (it is still particularly expensive to implement it in learning-based training), you will almost certainly start seeing it more often in training courses for a variety of different industries. The best thing about applying motion-sensing technology to game-based training is that it allows users to learn skills physically as well as conceptually, developing muscle-memory along the way. And if the game-based learning program is developed the right way, it can use motion sensors to make the training adapt to the specific skill sets of the user. Personalizing the training experience, as you might know, makes it much more effective for students. Motion-sensing technology can be applied to game-based learning in many different ways. For example, a device that measures eye movement can help determine whether a student is focusing on the content, and where that student is directing the most attention. Facial expressions could be measured to determine course engagement, and physical motion requirements can be inserted into training for practice and instruction. The possibilities go on and on. Designing Digitally is excited about the new possibilities that motion-detection technology adds to game-based learning, and we are keeping close tabs on the development of its many applications. Please follow us on Facebook to keep up-to-date about this exciting new technology as it takes shape in coming months.

With the high volume of new technologies coming out every day, it's no wonder why traditional methods of learning are taking a backseat. Instructional learning is a long-standing means of teaching, but it is now being teamed with "social learning" practices. Social learning is the idea that people learn better within a social context, or respond well to more interactive learning practices. This also includes the idea that people learn better through influential models that are facilitated through observational and integrative learning platforms, such as serious games, video conferences, web conferences, and distance learning opportunities. With the high level of importance that is placed on the internet today, and the fact that a majority of individuals either own or have access to computers, smartphones, and tablets, the move toward social learning is inevitable. The internet is the key tool to moving and providing information to people from all different backgrounds. Not only does it carry and convey information 24/7, but it provides a means for people to access this information whenever they need. When it comes to all different types of learning, from academic settings to the work place, the internet has changed the way information is presented. This social shift toward a more technology-based society has also contributed to a change in the way we learn and retain information. Social learning practices that are technology-based used in conjunction with traditional teaching methods provide an engaging way of delivering information and educating a targeted audience. There are a number of factors that have contributed to this shift, including the rise of social software applications and how they are used for learning. Social Software Platforms and Learning With the growing popularity of the internet and the rise in the number of internet users, it was only a matter of time before multiple social software applications and mediums would take over. Social software applications are the communication tools that enable people to interact with and convey information to one another. The examples of such tools are endless, but take a look at a handful of the most popular types: Google chat Instant messaging Text messaging Blogs Social networks (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, etc) Search engines Wikis Social libraries Message boards Collaborative software (Webex, Join.me, GotoMeeting) Email Virtual Worlds   These are just a few of the ways people are now able to connect, share information, and communicate via the internet. While the initial purpose of these types of social software may have been created for one reason or another, they are now used for many different daily activities, both personal and business. It is important to note that while these forms of communicating through the internet may have different intended purposes, they are all enabling people to share information and interact whenever convenient. Additionally, software applications, platforms, and the internet itself are now playing a huge role in education and gaining knowledge overall. From being able to "google" the answer to a question the moment it comes up to helping teachers provide instruction in a more innovative and engaging way, the internet and the advancement of technology are becoming instrumental in how we learn. Online classes or distance education is becoming more and more popular, as it allows students from all over the world to partake in a class they otherwise might be unable to attend. The traditional classroom setting is certainly not going anywhere, but the use and availability of new technologies are changing the look of learning for the better.

As a serious game developer, we at Designing Digitally realize how far-reaching the gaming phenomenon has been, and how much it has permeated multiple facets of our society. Gaming-related programs have started to play a role in everything from job training to recreation to information sharing. In fact, your average consumer or employee is probably much more comfortable and experienced with game-based technology than you might realize. Although most gaming is associated with home video game consoles and entertainment, serious games are designed for training or educational reasons. Companies can use game-based learning programs to train new employees, and a wide variety of organizations use serious games to teach their workers to perform various tasks. Serious game technology can even be used for virtual tours. As more young people enter the workforce, the gamification of learning is growing by leaps and bounds, but the younger generation isn't the only age group that is leading the gaming revolution in the workplace. People well into their thirties, forties and beyond are becoming avid game-related technology users, and you might be surprised by some of the statistics on gamers and their regular habits. For instance, you might think that your typical gamer might be in his teens or twenties, but the truth is that the average age of gamers in the United States is 37. The typical gamer has also been playing for an average of 12 years, and the average age of the most frequent game purchaser is 41. In fact, the percentage of gamers over the age of 50 has steadily increased every year since 1999.