[event] Gabe Zichermann is all about G.

... the 'g' of gamification that is. (If you stumbled on this article hoping it was another 'g', thanks for the visit but this won't interest you.)

I'm glad Ralph convinced me to attend Gabe Zichermann's talk in Brussels last week, organised by the BetaGroup. In short, gamification is about applying game techniques to non-game real world stuff. One example was a speeding camera that enters you into a lottery when you drive below the speed limit, so you can win the fees collected from those who are speeding. Game techniques include but are not limited to:

• Missions and tasks
• Epic wins (I didn't know I could do this.)
• Points and levels and ranks
• Failing forward

Gabe has written a book (and almost another one and gamification design with O'Reilly later this year) on the very subject. He gave a well delivered and interesting talk going over what sells (fun is one of them), 4 player types, and 'SAPS' which stands for 'Status, Access, Power, Stuff'.

He was giving a preview of his talk at TEDxKids in Brussels, and that video should be online soon. Here's similar material:

Gamification - Designing for Engagement

View more presentations from Gabe Zichermann

It was the second time in one week span that I heard about gamification. Also the Moodlemoot conference last week talked about it (and how to use new features in Moodle 2.0 to gradually unlock 'levels'). It is an interesting concept we could apply in the design of learning programs or environments. Thinking out wildly, it might even fit leadership training. Imagine a gamificated leadership training programme like this:

• You start with a level called 'Suddenly Leading'. It has various activities such as watching videos of people who were suddenly leading teams and their first months on that experience. It has short simulated office games where you make a decision. It has links to a lot of leadership books and models. Every activity gives you points and when you have enough, the next level is unlocked.
• The next level is 'Expectations'. It has surveys that you fill in and other people fill in that map your leadership strenghts and weakenesses. It has interviews with 'old' and 'new' leaders and new generations. The ultimate goal of this level is to find what is expected of a good leader nowadays. Next levels are unlocked as you collect enough points by doing the activities.
• All next levels are on typical behaviors such as 'vision', 'trust', etc. The activities in the levels get you points and activities are about books, events to attend, assignments to carry out during your job, people to have a talk with, research on leadership, video testimonials of examplar leaders, tips to try out, feedback from others, etc. Every behavior level gets you a badge.

Who'd like a leadership programme like that? What else would you fit in?