Gamer on the verge of an epic win (Photo courtesy Jane McGonigal)
Imagine achieving this expression during a breakout session at the next event you attend. OK before you say yes maybe you need a bit of context.
This photo was taken by a photographer who set up a camera to track the expressions of gamers playing World of Warcraft. The face you see is a gamer on the verge of an epic win.
I love that phrase: epic win. More than a minor accomplishment, this is the feeling you get when you actually complete a game of Monopoly, cross the finish line of your first (or 31st) marathon, crest the summit of the mountain you’re climbing, etc. More than simple goals accomplished. An epic win.
Now that you have some context of the photo, imagine the power of a room full of these faces at an event you attend. Imagine the deep learning and powerful connections made as a room full of people achieve something greater than themselves. Imagine the continued conversations not only after the session, but weeks and months later as those who attended continue to pull nuggets from the experience. Who wouldn’t sign up for that?
These were my thoughts when watching the video below by Jane McGonigal on the power of gaming.
I challenge you to add the words epic and quest to your breakout sessions. Yes it adds pressure but the payoff is engagement on a level rarely experienced at conferences & events.
Here are 4 tips to create the environment for achieving an epic win in your sessions (based on research from Jane McGonigal):
- Collaboration: no epic win happens alone. Your session should bring people together around a common quest (yes I just used the word quest). Your learning should be exciting right? What’s more exciting than banding together with others on a quest to achieve an epic win. (Note: I do believe you can have quests and epic wins in ANY setting from financial regulations to SOX compliance to reinventing an industry best practice).
- Shared problem: Why do we (the collective “we”) spend so much time saving the world, gathering all of the stars for Mario, etc? Simple: there’s a problem to solve! Mario must save the princess. [Insert World of Warcraft premis here]. We are a problem solving people. Present the problem and turn us loose
- Clear Boundaries: When playing any game there are boundaries (rules) of the game. Most boundaries are fairly loose to support creative game play but the point here is solid: give clear boundaries/rules by which participants can achieve an epic win
- Time: It’s the most precious resource we have. Allow participants time to collaborate over the shared problem and digest the framework and boundaries. Then get out of their way and let them create.
We attend educational sessions expecting to learn something. We sit patiently to be taught. We want out disappointed or at least frustrated knowing we’ll never have the time to apply what we’ve learned. Why not harness the cognative/creative resources in the room, guide them on a quest (even if only for an hour) and achieve a goal larger than any individual thought possible.
If the above seems too good to be true, you need to spend more time gaming.
What’s your take? How open are you to the gaming culture? How would this play at your conference?
Let the collaborative game begin. I’ll see you on the journey to the epic win.
Kevin:
Great post! Jane’s #3 tip – Shared Problem – really struck a chord with me, especially as it relates to conference education sessions.
One of the foundational adult learning principles is that adults are problem-centered rather than content-oriented. I’m waiting for some savvy conference organizers to plan the content of the conference around the problems of their attendees and potential solutions instead of just repurposing the latest content and trends.
That would be an epic win for me! (And, I would make that face too!)
@Jeff:
Love the idea of focusing education around problems rather than around popular content. Sounds like the game planning (pun intended) would be to discover the problems while the conference sessions would be collaborating potential solutions to the problems. Rapid prototyping…what a takeaway for an attendee.
This is a perfect tie-in to a conference experience involving social gaming in a place you’d least expect to find it…at the Green Meeting Industry Council’s
Annual Conference!!
Chaired by Elizabeth Henderson, the intent is to play in teams as we apply the education we gradually receive throughout the conference to living case studies (of the event sponsors)! The theory is that when humans are assigned to teams, they immediately find a sense of connectivity and engagement with other members of their teams, sparked by a natural propensity towards competition.
A lot of inspiration came from “Total Engagement” – great book for anyone who hasn’t yet had the chance to read.
The concept is unlike any conference out there – from the time of an assigned “check-in” to having team leaders and designated roles for team members to being rewarded for accomplishments.
Super exciting stuff!
Midori Connolly, Chief AVGirl
@GreenA_V
@Midori
You made my day. I love that the Green Meeting Industry Council’s Annual Conference will be turning education and networking into a collaborative game. I love the idea of a living case study. I think the key to Green Meeting Industry’s success will be to discover, share and guide attendees and exhibitors alike to the epic win.
I’d love to talk to you more about the experience and will be following this one closely. Thank you for the heads up!