This slide deck describes a gamification strategy to assist English as a second language students with the skills needed to enter the work force in the USA.

1. Gamification Certification
Level 2 Practicum
Bonnie Meinking
July 2014

2. Non-Profit Organization Overview
Reach Out Lakota (ROL)
 Established in 1992
 Located in West Chester, OH (suburb of Cincinnati)
 http://reachoutlakota.org/
 Provides food and clothing assistance for residents in the
Lakota School District.
 Partners with local churches to provide additional meal
assistance and job skills training.
 Additional outreach programs:
 Thanksgiving baskets
 Adopt-a-Child Christmas program
 Back-to-School program.
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3. Gamification Summary:
“You’re Hired!”
 Many clients at ROL speak English as a second language
and do not have a lot of experience in obtaining a job.
 Through a local partner church, ROL clients can now
participate in free English as a Second Occupational
Language (ESOL) training.
 My idea is to develop a game that enables a client to
experience a simulated situation of obtaining a job – from
locating potential work opportunities through the application
process and subsequently, completing the interview.
 Successful completion = You’re Hired!
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4. Game Types:
Simulation / Discovery
 A player selects one of three
environments:
 Construction and Landscape
 Fast Food
 Retail and Grocery
 At every level, each environment
visually immerses the player into
the experience, with a variety of
“hotspots” available to initiate
optional challenges that add more
points to their score.
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5. Game Types:
Grand Challenges
 In each environment, there are
four main challenges:
 Locating new opportunities
 Completing the Job Application
 Preparing for the Interview
 The Interview
 Once a challenge is completed,
the player receives a “badge” and
is promoted to the next level.
 Also in the grand challenge are
optional tasks the player can
chose to complete for extra points.
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6. Game Types:
Rapid Feedback
 Players receive points and badges
for completion of grand
challenges.
 Optional tasks also provide
opportunities to earn extra points.
 During the challenge, players
receive inspiring comments to help
encourage them to keep
competing.
 A leaderboard is shown at the time
the player enters his/her login
credentials.
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7. Game Mechanics
 Levels and Badges
 Each grand challenge represents a level.
 For completing each level, a badge is earned.
 Additional badges can be earned by completing hidden tasks
available in each environment.
 Variable Rewards
 The top score of each week receives credit for a snack of their
choice on their next visit.
 Different “optional tasks” are located in hidden hotspots
throughout the game interface. Individuals need to search for
these optional tasks in order to locate them and get additional
points for their completion.
 Players that earn at least one badge in the month are entered
into a drawing for a gift certificate to a local grocery store.
 Leaderboard / Competition
 All player “nicknames” are identified on a leaderboard upon login.
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8. Example of Game Interface
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9. Additional Activities to Make it Fun
 Upon initial login, players create a name and develop an
avatar based on selecting from a set of predetermined
features and builds, such as:
 Gender
 Race
 Hair Color
 Eye Color
 Body Type
 Clothes
 In addition to the leaderboard, players who complete a
challenge will receive special privileges from ROL such as:
 One snack food of their choice for completing the “Job
Application” challenge.
 A new outfit for completing the “Preparing for the Job Interview”
challenge.
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