Serious Play Conference
Serious Games For
Leader and Team Training
© 2012 Decisive-Point, All rights reserved.
August 23, 2012
Objective
Provide an overview of what I think makes a
“good” serious game an effective tool for
Leader and Team TrainingLeader and Team Training
© 2012 Decisive-Point, All rights reserved.
Overview
• Training must be a continues cycle of study, practice and
reflection.
• Complex or abstract concepts become tangible when using
a serious game
• Use of the game promotes improved visualization of events • Use of the game promotes improved visualization of events
with respect to time, space, distance, and capabilities.
• Students can experiment and make bold decisions without
suffering catastrophic failure.
• Experience can be rapidly repeated.
• Games can dramatically and effectively link cause and
effect.
© 2012 Decisive-Point, All rights reserved.
My “Ah-hah” Moment…
CGSC, Spring 1998
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“Decisive Action” Exercise - 1998
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DA - PE 2 Combined Obstacle Overlay
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DA - PE 1 Combined Obstacle OverlayDA - PE 2 RED Situation
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DA - PE 1 Combined Obstacle OverlayDA - PE 2 BLUE Situation
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“Decisive Action” Exercise - 1998
RED – Student Group 1Task: Seize TABRON Purpose: To establish a shorter line of communication
BLUE – Student Group 2Task: Defeat the III Red CorpsPurpose: To set the conditions for offensive operations
Instructions to Both Groups:
1. Both sides will fight using U.S. doctrine
2. 6 hours to plan, 5 hours to “fight”, 1 hour for AAR
3. Before Battle: Quick briefing on estimate of situation and plan
© 2012 Decisive-Point, All rights reserved.
Attacker’s Most Likely and Dangerous Courses of Action
BlueG2_ECOA.wmv
BLUE Intelligence Officer
BlueG2_ECOA.wmv
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Attacker’s Plan
Red_COA_Short.wmv
RED Commander
Red_COA_Short.wmv
© 2012 Decisive-Point, All rights reserved.
• Students were very shocked to discover their plans were so
predictable.
• During the next 4 battles, they made every effort to out-
think their opponent.
Results of “First Battle”
• I discovered the great learning benefit of fighting “Blue
against Blue”.
• I realized that I was a mediocre instructor and a mediocre
officer within a mediocre system. We were great at process
(science of war), but weak at applying the science (art of
war).
Another REDFOR Group…
Play A301History.wmv
© 2012 Decisive-Point, All rights reserved.
How does a person become a strong leader or an effective
team member?team member?
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Like any skill training, it must be cyclic.
Study
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PracticeReflection
Science
Art
Where do most leaders and teams expend their efforts?
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Study
After all, we have a wealth of experience.
© 2012 Decisive-Point, All rights reserved.
PracticeReflection
Science
Art
What is a better model for continued growth and success?
© 2012 Decisive-Point, All rights reserved.
Conduct quality practice and allocate more time and energy for selected study and critical reflection
Selected Study
© 2012 Decisive-Point, All rights reserved.
Science
ArtQuality Practice
Critical Reflection
Findings• An effective training approach supported by a
“good” serious game can dramatically improve
leadership and team skills.
• Time spent learning to play the game is almost
always wasted time!always wasted time!
• Use crawl, walk, run, approach to increase training
performance.
• Emphasize process over outcomes.
• The game must rapidly and continuously engage the
students
• Task repetition with additional factors increasingly
difficult situations is critical to success© 2012 Decisive-Point, All rights reserved.
Findings• Instructor interaction should take place during the
exercise, as needed, to highlight problems, coach
before continuing further.
• Require students to be responsible for much of
their learningtheir learning
• Create and inject compelling problems as needed to
force student actions.
• Simple videos introduced at the right time can
create powerful effects.
• No matter how good the game, the teacher will
make or break the quality of the learning experience
© 2012 Decisive-Point, All rights reserved.
®
Jim LunsfordPresident
Decisive-Point
816-584-2882 (Direct)
816-584-2883 (FAX)
www.decisive-point.com
© 2012 Decisive-Point, All rights reserved.