2017 MLA Annual Conference

Are your new employees experiencing information overload during training? Are your training materials so mind-numbingly repetitive that they make you want to take a nap? And after all the time spent training, how do you know that your newly trained employee really "got" it? Gamification may just be the training tool you are looking for. This presentation will explore gamification and why we should be using it, focusing on the gamification of training, but also looking toward future uses within the library and creating connections within our communities. Using examples from Krueger Library at Winona State University and their use of Library Flair and Breakout EDU, this presentation will demonstrate how gamification can be applied to training and why it is a useful tool that all trainers can implement. Grounded in the knowledge that appreciation and recognition are the cornerstones of workplace motivation, Library Flair created a friendly competition among student workers, and Breakout EDU provided a unique way to assess their knowledge. Both of these programs are low tech, low investment solutions with a high impact on worker motivation and performance. With a few minor changes, these programs can be implemented in various ways to increase community participation within the library and provide opportunities for resume building. With gamification the options are endless!