Meetings are boring. So let's fix them.

Embedding games-based learning practice into teaching has been an interest of mine for some time, but why restrict it to teaching?

Inspired by Nic Whitton's post on Making Learning Engaging and Alex Moseley's post on embedding games methodologies into a conference session, I wanted to see how far you could push the idea of making 'work' more engaging by learning from games. To save you any background reading on the topic, we have previously identified six key elements to motivation in games-based learning:

Community - Competition - Completion - Creativity - Puzzle Solving - Narrative

Applying these elements to a few days in the office, this is the list of ideas I have so far, a mixed bag, I would love to build on this and come up with a real set of tools that could easily be used. I don't want this to be a gimmick that is only implemented by games fans, I want tools that help people cooperate to reach desirable conclusions in an efficient, enjoyable way. Is that too much to ask?

Level 1 - Easy
Ideas that can be implemented without special equipment or too much convincing

1. You don't get free run of the refreshments on arrival in the meeting room. Tea & biccies become available as a reward for completing the first 3 agenda items complete - it's important this isn't a time limit, it's reaching a goal.
   
2. A points based reward system for contributions (newbie - bronze - silver - gold stars as seen on most discussion forums) but applicable easily to most electronic channels (and less easily to face-to-face channels)
3. Or provide physical rewards for activity. A little badge for being on a particular project team, or even smarties to represent each online contribution presented when the group meets face to face.
4. A 'swear jar' in the office for committing whatever crimes are considered punishable. Like accidentally forwarding emails to people who weren't supposed to read that, or double booking yourself and wasting people's time.
5. Halfway through a meeting or conference, everyone stand up and change the dynamics by changing seats.
   

Level 2 - Medium
Requires colleagues to want to try new ways of working, a little effort!

1. Anthropomorphisation. In our case, we name our servers after Terry Pratchett characters, which mean we can talk about with personalities and genders, and amuse ourselves associating characters with server functions. "Cheery seems to have had a rough night, she couldn't get up this morning, but Carrot is ok..."
2. In an email/twitter/comment exchange members must include an agreed category (e.g. animal names) into each of their responses. This removes the tendancy to yak and forces more consideration than usual into both writing and the reading.
3. When working in smaller groups reporting back to the main group, make it competitive. Prizes not required, just the honour of being best, and promoting the recognition of good work.
4. Use games as analogies to demonstrate concepts rather than powerpoint. I'm a fan of using Lego to demonstrate social networking.
5. Apply a Reading-ease/Fog-Index measure to all reports. Anyone circulating work of unnecessary fogginess is given press-ups according to how verbose it was! (the press ups aren't enforced but serve as a reminder that you're not speeding things up).
6. A light hearted recognition of topical dress according to the days work/meeting topic. e.g. a tie with numbers on it for budget meetings.
7. Use anonymous personal reposnse system (PRS) or other voting devices to take impromptu votes of agreements or gather unplanned feedback from the table. We do it with students, why not with each other?

Level 3 - Hard
Requires kit and software that may or may not exist and big changes

1. Have the conversation take place in turns played alongside a game (electronic or physical). We are currently finding Carcassonne on the iPhone a good way of holding a conversation and you make your turn and type your message.
2. You don't have to be you. In some cases, maybe you feel strong enough to be a Warrior, or in others you want to be a diplomat. Easier online, but could work in meetings too, take roles, develop avatars and then it's ok to not do exactly what they expect.
3. In an online environment where you can see who is logged on, build an extra feature that allows you to virtually 'shoot' other logged on members. Suspect this might encourage people to log in regularly to join in - and they might well read and participate while they are there.
4. Add a puzzle-lock on each new email/post. You can't read it until you complete it - adding a challenge so the content is the reward.
5. Some kind of monitor for who has 'possession' of a meeting, ie who has had the most voice-time. If that ever gets to over 75% for one person, then the is not a productive meeting.