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Babelmachine

Because the revolution will not be televised, but blogged

by Joey Alarilla, Philippines


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Online games can lead to more innovative workforce, says ASTD report

May 11, 2009 11:37

As a longtime advocate of responsible gaming--it's one of the main reasons I founded the Asian Gaming Journalists Association back when I was still a journalist--I've always known that online games can teach us real-world skills.

Still, it's gratifying to see this news item about the American Society of Training and Development formally acknowledging in an official report that massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) can help in team building and promoting innovative thinking.

Here's an excerpt from the ASTD report.

Companies attempting to drive innovation, with its emphasis on breaking the frames around fixed thinking, have tried many kinds of environments to promote new mindsets, from greenfield sites to skunkworks. Michael Schrage, author of Serious Play: How the Best Companies Simulate to Innovate, writes about a "third place" where co-creative activity leads to innovation. Online role-playing games are such a place.

The esteemed John Seely Brown, author of Minds on Fire, a paean to continuous learning and the ongoing creation of new ideas and skills, suggests that MMORPGs may hold some keys to self-directed learning, better individual and team performance, and a more innovative workforce.

The world's largest association of workplace learning and performance professionals, the ASTD, has members from than 100 countries.

On a related note, you may also check out this blog post on the top five job skills this player learned from playing MMORPGs.



2 comments   |   Share


 

    Talkback
ShiningStar says...
I wouldn't mind paid training for this.:P

I think online games MMORPG, build around being a team player. In theory if group of workers, play together then they would probably be closer at work place and be better adapted to take on tasks together.

I think it wouldn't work as well in real life.

May 11, 2009 19:10
 
 
babelmachine says...
thanks @ShiningStar.

i think some of the skills can be transferred to real life. stuff like encouraging people to think out of the box, for instance. i'm fascinated by the idea that MMORPGs could be giving us a preview of the future workplace.

cheers!

May 12, 2009 13:30
 
 
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About Joey Alarilla

Joey Alarilla is the Multimedia Head a.k.a. The Catalyst of Manila-based Level Up! Inc., the PLDT Group's online gaming company. He is a doting dad, avid gamer, and pro wrestling fan. Visit his personal blog and follow him on Twitter. You may also add him to your Facebook, or follow him on Plurk and Yahoo! Meme.

 
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