Traditional training techniques often mimic how we learned in school, using lecture-style classroom training, PDFs, and evaluative tests. However, this training style is at odds with how our brains learn, process, and retain information.

Let’s explore why game-based training works, how it improves learning comprehension and retention, and the cognitive psychology principles that support it.

Distributed Practice

Distributed practice means spreading learning out over time. Instead of a full-day training session, you break down the content into smaller chunks and increase the time between each learning session.

Our brains aren't good at absorbing a lot of new information all at once. After a full day of learning, it’s challenging to remember everything covered because it's too much to process. Our brains absorb more knowledge by decreasing the amount learned in a single session and increasing the time between sessions. They also have to work harder to recall that knowledge in the next session, which helps encode it into long-term memory.

Game-based learning naturally incorporates distributed practice by breaking content into levels. Users must master small chunks of content before progressing, leading to better retention.

Mixing Topics

Mixing topics involves learning about multiple subjects simultaneously rather than diving deep into one topic. Psychologists have found that mixing topics improves comprehension and application of information, even though it takes longer to learn initially.

When learning multiple topics at once, your brain must decide which information applies to which situation, improving knowledge organization and making it easier to apply the right information in the future. Game-based training uses this technique in two main ways:

Allowing users access to different topics within a level helps them practice applying the right information to the right situation.
Using different game types within a course, such as scenario rounds, simulation rounds, and trivia rounds, helps users apply the same information in different contexts, improving retention and application after training.

Practice Tests

Most of us grew up hating tests, but they can be effective training techniques when not graded. Practice testing involves low to no stakes on the outcome, like flashcards rather than pop quizzes.

This method works because it forces our brains to practice recalling information, keeping it at our mental fingertips, and encoding it into long-term memory. At its core, most game-based training is a practice test disguised as a fun activity. Regardless of the game type, users must recall and apply the correct answer to the situation. The game elements reduce the pressure, improving the effectiveness of the practice test and leading to increased retention.

The Final Squeeze

Game-based training doesn't just make training more fun; it also leverages cognitive psychology techniques like distributed practice, practice testing, and mixing topics to help employees learn, remember, and apply more information effectively. By understanding and utilizing these principles, game-based training ensures that your employees are better equipped to retain and use the knowledge they gain.