Tag: gamified content development

Microlearning, Gamified, Elearning, ILT Content Development Services

Content Development

We at Shezartech believe that content is everything when it comes to education. Other aspects of teaching such as presentation and verbal explanation matter too but nothing can substitute quality content. So, we always strive to ensure that our content is rich in quality.

Shezartech always takes care of the following things:

Attractiveness

We believe that learning material must have an attractive look and feel. A very informative and comprehensive content that is not presented nicely does not go down well with learners. Shezartech understands that aesthetics matter too. Content’s aesthetics is the first things that learners notice. Content must create a good first impression that encourages learns to explore more.

Information

Shezartech always makes sure that every frame of video and line of text of content provides new information to viewers. Developed content must cover all the required aspects of the topic. We ensure that content that we develop shades sufficient light on the topic covered so that it’s all the aspects are covered. We are very vigilant about avoiding information redundancy as well.

Accessibility

We always make it a point to ensure that our content remains accessible and compatible with a majority of the devices. All the technical aspects of content are checked from the compatibility and accessibility point of views. Shezartech also ensures that content would work in an offline mode, eliminating the dependency on the internet.

Types of Content Development

Shezartech understands that no one type of content is best suited for all the situations. Type of content varies as per the subject domain, too. For example, geography is best understood by referring to maps. Learning languages does not need visual elements that much. We offer three types of content to ensure our product is always a good fit.

E-Learning

We develop content for learning management systems. The content is compatible with all the mainstream browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer. We take care that our content is SCORM compliant. Thereby, we ensure that integrating our content into different LMS platforms is never an issue for our clients.

ILT

We develop content for classroom training programs, as well. ILT content is usually developed in the form of power-point presentations. Apart from that, we create material for faculties and learners too. Faculty guides provide guidelines to teachers about what aspects of the topic to cover and how to do so. Student handouts provide necessary instructions to students (if any), along with acting as a workbook.

Microlearning

Shezartech develops microlearning content, too. Generally, microlearning content is developed for topics that learners need to refer on the go. Typically, topics like standard procedures and working principles are covered in microlearning videos. Duration of this type of media ranges between one to three minutes.

Gamified Content

Today’s young generations have grown up playing games. Naturally, they like it when their learning content consists of games. Shezartech has carved a niche for itself as a gamified content developer. Shezartech develops games that range from creating a simple puzzle to games that give immersive experience.

Development Process

Shezartech follows a systematic approach for developing content. The process is designed to ensure that no communication gap or misunderstanding issue arises. Shezartech seeks clients’ approval after each stage of the content development to ensure it is producing exactly what its clients want.

Raw Content Analysis

Shezartech analyses raw content/information shared by clients. Discussions are held with clients whenever there are any doubts. Things like technical aspects and operational procedures are given special attention, to get absolute clarity about those.

Design Documentation

Shezartech’s team creates design documents as per the understanding built upon analyzing the raw content/information shared by clients. The documents reflect Shezar’s understanding of the subject matter, and also provide a high-level idea about how it plans to create content. The same is sent to clients for approval.

Storyboarding

Storyboard creation starts post client signoff on the design document. Storyboards provide detailed information about the content that would be created. Storyboards provide in-depth information about each frame of a video, PPT slide, or paragraph of text. It tells which components would be used, for what topics they would be used, how users would interact. Storyboards provide statistics such as the duration of each frame, slide and the overall duration of each module. The storyboard is sent to the client for approval.

Assets Creation and Integration

All the elements required for creating the content are manufactured in this phase. Elements involve sketches, character animations, texts, user-interaction elements, etc. Apart from creation, the position of the elements in video frames is decided, as well.

Creating the actual content is the next step. All the created elements are placed as per the design layout, the content gets created frame by frame. Once done, the manufactured content is sent across to clients.

Feedback and Fixes

We ask our clients to provide detailed feedback on the delivered content. Any doubts, queries that arise are solved. Issues that clients mention are fixed, and the updated content is delivered. The entire procedure is repeated for one more time, concluding with the final delivery.

Gamification Vs Game Based Learning

The terms gamification and game-based learning may sound synonymous when thought of in the training or learning context but are different. Gamification can be defined as the process of adding game elements in a non-gaming environment. On the other hand, game-based learning is the process of imparting knowledge and teaching skills using games as a tool. Let’s illustrate the processes those two definitions mention. And later, we will have a look at how they differ from each other in terms of aspects other than their structure (nature).

Gamification is done by integrating gaming elements into a learning environment (e.g. LMS). Some of the gaming elements are leaderboard, quiz, award, etc. These game elements are not a part of the learning material. The learning material and gaming elements remain two separate entities. Broadly, gamification is done in a couple of ways. One is embedding elements like quizzes etc. in the learning material (course). Note that the actual leaning material still does not change when game elements are embedded in the course(s). The other way is to add gaming elements in the learning platform, like leaderboard, badges, etc. So, logically, the entire program or course for which game elements get applied becomes one big game. As users progress in that ‘game’ they earn badges, their names show up on the leaderboard, etc.

A game-based learning experience is created by building games that deliver learning objectives. The users gain the necessary knowledge and learn skills by playing games. In this case, the learning material itself is a game(s). A program or course is generally a series of games that users have to play. Typically one game would cover a topic or module. These games could be independent of each other or a sub-part of one big game that covers the entire course. In the latter case, each sub-part forms one level of the big game. As users complete one game (learning module), they go up a level.

Let’s move to a comparison between the two. There isn’t much of a variety available in gaming elements. The gamification process remains largely restricted to a leaderboard, quiz, badges, etc. So gamified content may fail to motivate users once the sense of newness recedes. Whereas, there is no capping on the number of unique games that can be designed, so users’ interest can be maintained by ensuring diversity.

Gamification elements are independent of the subject matter. They can be used for courses belonging to any domain. So, it is easy to gamify learning material. A game can impart knowledge or skills only for the topic for which it was created. As a consequence, it takes a lot of time, effort, and expertise to develop game-based learning content.

Gamification measures and quantifies success. It does not improve the learning material’s quality. Which, motivates for completing the learning objectives. The transition from conventional courseware to game-based learning material improves the learning resources’ quality. It makes the learning material more engaging.

Gamified content does not provide opportunities to experiment and see the consequences of incorrect actions. Game-based content simulates real-world scenarios. It gets users to perform real-world steps to progress in the game. That way, users develop a better understanding of the subject matter and become aware of the consequences of incorrect actions. To summarize, adding gaming elements to a non-gaming learning delivery/management system is known as gamification. Creating courseware in the form of games is a game-based learning method. Gaming elements are limited in quantity, independent of subject matter, and easy to integrate. Game-based learning modules are potentially unlimited, specific to learning objectives, and developing them is a demanding activity.