At the C3 project meeting in Denmark the BFI Wien Learning Path Team gained much new knowledge regarding digital tools and game based training in learning settings.
Sandra Heuschmidt, E-Learning Manager at BFI Wien, describes her experiences as follows:
“While I was at first a little suspicious about the idea that games could have any notable impact on learners’ motivation or engagement in learning processes, I have to admit that the impressions throughout our meeting in Denmark persuaded me otherwise. We tried out different techniques and methods at VUC during one of which I rapidly experienced firsthand the effects a game could have on my own learning behaviour:
In a team consisting of four people we were assigned to disarm a virtual bomb using a virtual reality headset. We were also given a paper manual for different kinds of modules that a bomb possibly consists of. To disarm the bomb, all modules had to be deactivated. In those modules or mini-games we were confronted with different kinds of logic problems and the process of finding the solution together was not only lots of fun but highly motivating. We were eager to learn how each problem could be solved, and especially the ones we had failed at.
I was probably most impressed with the concept of training a whole set of skills at the same time, practically completely unconsciously: communication skills, systematic problem solving, logical thinking and of course language skills, as English is a second language to everyone in our group.
In the end we almost didn’t want to stop playing, as we were getting better very quickly – so I guess that’s all I needed to know about how games can affect motivation in learning!”
The BFI Learning Path Project coordinator Ulla Sever also reported to have gained new exciting ideas especially concerning gamification. She explained that:
“Personally I was very impressed to evaluate the training event by developing a game. On the one hand this made it possible to review the training contents, on the other hand it was possible to have in-depth discussions in order to adapt the learned to the trainer’s and organization’s needs. Which digital methods are important and/or are practicable for BFI Wien? Which training to we have to provide our trainers to be able to implement parallel teaching, active floor, virtual reality, games, etc.?”
After the C3-meeting, the BFI team continues their development work on teachers’ digital skills – now with a set of exciting new ideas!