When you think about it, what makes meeting people and breaking the ice so difficult? For me it is the lack of shared experiences. Conversation and interactions are all based off of the experiences of each individual, but true friendships are formed only when those people share an experience with each other. Games provide that experience immediately by breaking through social stigmas and becoming a platform for interaction.

• Games provide rules. Rules determine the “social norms” of the game and allow everyone to act and become comfortable within those norms. Since everybody knows them, everyone knows what to expect and how to act.
• Games can often times provide a shared goal. Games that involve teamwork immediately give a reason for people to work together and interact. Even competitive games usually have a single goal that is wanted by all the players.

Games and game mechanics can also provide value in other ways. In Aaron Dignan’s book Game Frame he addresses the two causes or sources of the apparent apathy of many young people. First there is a lack of volition. Volition is the will to do something; it is what motivates us to take action. Faculty is our confidence that we have the skills and expertise to accomplish something.

Often times people limit themselves because they lack either volition or faculty. Games can change this by providing what Dignan calls “flow.” Flow is a state where a person’s skills and expectations rise at the same approximate level as the challenges he or she faces. If a challenge is to hard and our skill level too low it creates anxiety, whereas if our skills are more than adequate for the challenge then we become bored.

Games optimize flow so that when you first start out you are confronted with challenges that you can overcome with a limited skill set. As your skills grow so do the challenges. This provides a strong model on which to improve skills and confidence.

These are just a few things that games can teach us, and only part of the reason I love them so much. If you are interested in this topic I suggest you check out Game Frame or the work of Jane McGonigal.

This is the one we have now:

You’ll see several choices that they’re asking you give your opinion for by voting on this Poll: http://en.board.bigpoint.com/farmera…wpost&t=435465

Thank you for sharing your opinions.

The Forum Moderators need to send these poll results to higher-ups by Midday (CET) on Tuesday 10th April.

Your Farmerama Team

All game timings are shown in Central European Time (CET). To get an idea of how CET relates to your own time click on the clock face in the right-hand column.

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Note: For the past six months the GoGreen Conference has been engaged with CORE, a fantastic non-profit in Colorado working to advance a coalition of sustainable businesses within the region, to produce the 2012 Sustainable Opportunities Summit. We have been lucky enough to interview some of the incredible speakers on this year’s Summit line up and are distributing them here for you to enjoy & learn from. 

Aaron Dignan believes that games can fundamentally change how we work, act and play — essentially making us more productive, motivated and happier at the same time. He also argues that gaming concepts have the power to change our behavior in ways that many other systems have failed. For sustainability advocates this an idea with huge potential. It’s no secret that behavior change from our earth damaging habits to more sustainable ones has been hard to come by in the mainstream. In this interview, the Undercurrent Founder/CEO and author of the book Game Frame tells us what’s on the horizon & just how powerful these ideas really are.

Sustainable Opportunities Summit: How great is the potential impact of gamification within the realm of sustainability? What kind of problems can it help us solve?

Aaron Dignan: The potential for games to impact our behavior can’t be overstated. Gamification for sustainability could help us crowdsource solutions to complex problems, or simply change our behavior and choices on an individual level. Home power consumption compared to neighbors and peers on your bill is one promising area.

SOS: Why is gamification so effective in generating a shift towards greener behavior where governments, incentives, the media, dire & conclusive reports, branding & advertising — even good ol’ fashioned common sense — have failed?

AD: People have to be motivated to engage with an idea. Most sustainability messaging is about reduction – have less, do less, get less. By bringing elements of competition, creativity, and luxury into the mix, that message can be more like: achieve more.

SOS: Is the effect based in a social construct of our culture? Or are most human beings wired to respond to the allures of games across the board?

AD: Our hardwiring for games goes far beyond our culture. The basic wetware of the human brain is structured to crave, to chase (and be chased), to explore the world around us looking for rewards. The very idea of a game is just an emergent manifestation of our basic nature.

SOS: What are some of the coolest ways you have seen gamification principles applied for sustainability’s sake?

AD: The visual feedback (and automation) of the Nest thermostat is impressive. It learns your preferences, programs itself and then helps you save energy with a simple display. You can also access it from your computer or mobile device and control the temperature of your home from afar.  The EcoDrive visual inside some of Ford’s vehicles is also very effective.

SOS: Any major sustainability projects you’re dying to see gamification elements added to? Why would it be so rad (and effective!)?

AD: I’d love to see carbon feedback on every receipt. Imagine seeing the carbon impact of a burger vs. a taco. How might we all adjust our behavior if we had that information at our fingertips?

SOS: How can businesses adopt this strategy for internal sustainability programs (as opposed to consumer facing projects)? Could you provide a couple of examples (real or potential) where gaming could make a big difference in the success of a program?

AD: Simple ways to begin: put up a scoreboard. Show how each department is performing vs. the average. Ensure that everyone is building new skills as part of the initiative — learning is key to play. Set goals at different levels and challenge everyone to unlock the next one. Make high performance in the initiative equal social status and access — to a special monthly meeting for instance or some other reward.

SOS: How does the concept of adding a gaming layer into our work apply to small businesses or non-profits — organizations that might not have the resources to hire an expert or build out an app for their team? Are there simple ways to enact the concept without needing to build out a massive, technical infrastructure?

AD: Manufacturing facilities have simply written the number of pieces they produced on the floor with chalk before the next shift comes in. Something as simple as that challenge works. You don’t need an iPad app to incorporate the concepts.

SOS: Do you believe gamification is a silver bullet of sorts for behavior change, or are their limits to its effectiveness? If so, what are they and how can organizations mitigate the challenges?

AD: It’s only as good as its design and follow through. Games need to be play-tested, and they need to be expanded over time. Design something. Test it. Watch it. Change it. Think of a game as a behavioral EQ that you need to tune constantly. It’s not every really done.

SOS: Talk to us about “flow activities” and why achieving a balance between challenges and our capability to meet them is important. How does this play out in a situation where broad behavior change is being pursued, but different categories of ability are present within a population? Should we, in essence, be thinking in terms of creating levels or stages of behavior modification in order to affect both the long-tail and the mainstream?

AD: Everyone needs to be challenged according to their ability, yes. The most important thing is moving forward — a rate of improvement. If everyone does a little better every month, then it doesn’t matter whether you have a big or small footprint. They’re all getting smaller.

Aaron Dignan is the CEO of Undercurrent and the author of Game Frame. He will also give a special presentation on the concept of gamification as applied to sustainability at the 2012 Sustainable Opportunities Summit. To learn more or to register, visit: sosummit.org

The game of Skip Bo

Good Day, God!

I enjoy playing games with my 97-year-old mom. Today, after we got back from the doctor’s, we were playing Skip-Bo when it hit me. My mother and I really are  playing two different games.

She is playing one in which she “wins” if she plays all the cards in her hand and gets to draw five more. She also gets a “small win” if she can finish a run with a 12 and get it set aside.

The game I am playing is about being the first person to play all the cards in my pile and WIN! I  enjoy winning, God. But, I realized that my mother — playing her game — is probably getting more TOTAL enjoyment than I am. Hmm.

Game Frame by Aaron Dignan

And that got me to thinking about the varied and assorted Games of Life. When we are in school, the games are fairly easy to figure out: Achieving status as a Brain, Jock, Prom Queen, Cheer Leader — that’s winning. Then in our working years, it gets trickier. Employers and employees often seem to be playing separate games.

Now that I am retired I can create my own games. But I’m scared to actually do it. I have been sort of circling around the idea.  I already understand “giving myself points” and I am part way through the book Game Frame in which Aaron Dignan extolls the benefits of games for learning and “accelerated achievement.”

But designing a game means choosing goals. It means choosing some goals and not choosing others. It means “noticing” what I find rewarding. And wondering what else I could find rewarding. This isn’t just “showing up” and “getting along” with half conscious choices. This is serious.

Ah! It feels like You just pointed out that I could start with a draft and keep on making changes. Thanks, God!

This series is about learning from games in order to get more out of life .  If you haven’t read the first two posts now is a good time.

Game Life Lv.1 – Play

Game Life Lv.2 – Structure

I have been writing this series based on a presentation given by Aaron Dignan for the 99%.  I have also been adding my perspective as a student of human behavior and cloudthinker.  A few days ago I bought Aaron’s book Game Frame.  It has been a fun and neurologically rewiring experience.  If you like the content of these posts you will love the book.  If you don’t like these posts, you may still love the book.

The Game Frame structure (see Lv.2 and illustration below) makes it pretty clear why games captivate us.  Certain behaviors are encouraged during a game.  We are rewarded based on our performance.  When we fail, we get to try again, after receiving feedback.

In chapters 7 and 8 of Game Frame Mr. Dignan talks about behavioral games.

A behavioral game is a real world activity modified by a system of skills-based play.   – Game Frame p.81

It is important to point out a few things here.

1. Behaviors are observable and quantifiable.

2. Monopoly money isn’t real money.

Number one is vital for understanding how to structure a behavioral game.  The person designing the game must know which behaviors will be rewarded and which will not.  Think of this process as shaping the desired behavior.

Number two speaks of rewards themselves. Behavioral games are about experiencing progress, mastering skills, and social recognition.  When Monopoly is over you don’t go to the bank and make a deposit.

Here is an example of a behavioral game I invented and used successfully to teach teenagers with higher functioning autism how to cook.

Game Title: The King’s Chef

Objective: Learn to master functional skills and increase independence from adult assistance.

Outcome:

1. If you win, you gain the honor of becoming the King’s Chef.  This was to be represented with a flashy looking certificate.  You also gain recognition from your family and a tasty meal.

2. If you lose, you remain a lowly dishwasher… You do not get the same social recognition, and the meal might not be as tasty.

Activity: Make mashed potatoes.

Player Profile: A teenager with higher functioning autism.

Action: Peeling potatoes, mashing potatoes, measurements, etc.

Black Box: Me aka The King.

Feedback: Delivered immediately.  Player earns tally marks on a small white board for executing actions correctly.  Player levels up each 10 tally marks. When something was done wrong, they were told how to do it better.  When something was done right, they were verbally praised and received tally marks.

Skills: Fine motor, basic math, following directions.

Resources: All the ingredients were provided from the beginning.

Resistance: A timer was used as a deadline.  I would make an overly dramatic spectacle of myself (e.g. a PG rated Gordon Ramsey).

How much more fun does this sound compared to, “Ok Tommy, go make some mashed potatoes. All the stuff you need is in the kitchen and you can read the directions on the box”  Imagine how complex this task would seem to someone who has no experience in a kitchen?  It would boggle the mind, cause frustration, and ultimately they would not master new skills and become independent of adult assistance.

But they all did master skills and, most importantly, they learned to enjoy cooking.  The certificate was cool for a week but the lasting reward was becoming a master of skills aka The King’s Chef.

I really can’t get enough of this topic so I will write one more post.  I have yet to explore the reaches of behavioral games in our lives: adults with “real world” concerns.  I truly believe that utilizing the Game Frame can make life feel more engaging and rewarding.

Here is a funwork assignment. Take 20 minutes to apply the Game Frame to an activity you would like to get better at but find it hard to sustain motivation.  It can be anything: getting in better shape, networking, finishing a screenplay, building stronger relationships with your family. From my experience applying the Game Frame isolate areas I tend to overlook.

Thanks for stopping in and have a good weekend.

Thoughts Up.

• Game Frame: Using Games as a Strategy for Success – Aaron Dignan. Nearly finished, review coming soon.
• Emergence: The Connected Lives of Ants, Brains, Cities, and Software – Steven Johnson
• Where Good Ideas Come From: The Natural History of Innovation – Steven Johnson

What I’m Listening To:

• The new Justice album – Not bad. Enjoying the first 2/3 at least and adds a little bass to the morning drive.
  Here’s one song from it:

• On the same CD, I added these two songs:

  M83 – Midnight City

  and

  The Naked and Famous – Young Blood

The latter two songs mostly because of this:

What I’ve Watched:

The Art of Flight – Stunning cinematography. Watch in HD and have your mind blown.

• I am flipping the class – Students work on definitions, introductory problems, and prerequisite skills. Class time is divided between short “lectures” and group learning assignments.
• I am “gamifying” the class – Based on input from my aspiring game designer son (Check out his web site dtwgames.com ) and Aaron Dignan’s book Game Frame, I have added elements to my class that should add fun to it. I understand that math class may never be as fun as the best video games but I am giving it my best shot.
• I have added mastery learning concepts to the class – Students have the opportunity to rework homework and quizzes until reaching a satisfactory score (90% for HW, 70% for quizzes). Students who have satisfactory homework/quiz scores but do not pass the exam qualify to retake the exam 1 week later. (See this blog for a breakdown on how the tests work.)

We are barely 1 week in, so it is too early to tell if this will be effective. Early returns look promising, however. Only 1 student in a class of nearly 50 students did not achieve a satisfactory score on the first assignment, and over 40% of the students earned a satisfactory score on the second homework assignment before I even covered the material in class! The students seem to be motivated and engaged, which was my ultimate goal. I’ll update the class’s status as the semester progresses.

If you have any experience with flipping a class (the inverted classroom), gamifying your class (or gamifying anything), or mastery based learning, I’d love to hear from you. Please leave a comment, or you can email me directly though the contact page on my website.

- George

I am a math instructor at College of the Sequoias in Visalia, CA. If there’s a particular topic you’d like me to address, or if you have a question or a comment, please let me know. You can reach me through the contact page on my website – http://georgewoodbury.com.

A trailer for “Game Frame” a book by Aaron Dignan. More info at gameframers.com

Starring Aaron Dignan and Brendan Ferrer

Produced/Directed/Edited by Benjamin Ahr Harrison
Cinematography by Leyla T. Rosario
Sound by Jon Hildenstein
Lighting by Wayne McElroy