In our last post we described how the social learning sandbox (SLS) concept could be applied to a copywriting task. Some of you recognized that this SLS example has gamification built in. Gamification for learning is a hot topic right now and for very good reasons:
Gamification techniques are intended to leverage people's natural desires for socializing, learning, mastery, competition, achievement, status, self-expression, altruism, or closure, or simply their response to the framing of a situation as game or play. (Wikipedia, emphasis added.)
And research has shown that gamification is a powerful tool for certain business tasks and for boosting employee engagement:
In the organizational context, gamification has been shown to enhance employee engagement and produce desired business outcomes in a variety of business functions including marketing, logistics, human resources, customer service, and knowledge collaboration. (Umar Ruhi, in Technology Innovation Management Review.)
The SLS example for a copywriting task introduced in our most recent post assigns team members to the task of creating advertising copy for one of their products. They are first assigned preparatory study and then assigned two subtasks. Each of these subtasks is completed iteratively to enable participants to see the work of their teammates.
By viewing what others have done, participants see where their own work stands in relation to the group. This provides either a jolt of motivation to adjust their work or a measure of assurance that they are on the right track. The second iteration furthers these feelings but it also offers more powerful feedback that borders on profound.
When participants view the second round results, not only do they see a static milestone of their knowledge and performance relative to others, they also see the growth made by themselves and by the others. In math terms, they see the “delta” of their understanding.
Seeing this growth delta for themselves and their group is what gives this approach its power for employee engagement. Participants feel more connected to one another. They see the vulnerabilities and responsiveness of others. They bond.