--- title: "Games vs. Gaming: Creating Custom e-Learning" description: No boring e-learning doesn't mean creating gaming that provides no challenge, context, activity or feedback. --- ![](https://alleninteradev.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/blog-ind-header.jpg?id=221) ## Search Our Blogs Search: ## Blog Categories - [Custom Learning](https://blog.alleninteractions.com/topic/custom-learning) ## Subscribe to Our Blogs ![](https://blog.alleninteractions.com/hs-fs/file-5413236-jpg/images/lee_steve_(2).jpg?width=1387&height=526&name=lee_steve_(2).jpg) # Games vs. Gaming: Creating Custom e-Learning By Allen Interactions | May 18, 2009 | Custom Learning | 0 Comments Share [**](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.alleninteractions.com%2Fbid%2F24813%2FGames-vs-Gaming-Creating-Custom-e-Learning%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3D) [**](https://twitter.com/share?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.alleninteractions.com%2Fbid%2F24813%2FGames-vs-Gaming-Creating-Custom-e-Learning%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3D&hashtags=AllenInteraction) [**](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&urlhttps%3A%2F%2Fblog.alleninteractions.com%2Fbid%2F24813%2FGames-vs-Gaming-Creating-Custom-e-Learning%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3D) ![Steve Lee](https://blog.alleninteractions.com/hs-fs/file-5413236-jpg/images/lee_steve_(2).jpg?width=120&height=180&name=lee_steve_(2).jpg)*by Steve Lee, strategic relationship manager*  These days more and more "games" seem to be popping up in e-Learning. The problem is these games have no "Context". No context means the interface, rules, flow, choices, thought processes of the games are not realistic or relevant to the actual job performance of the learner. Many of these games simply take "facts" and place the into a game similar to Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, etc. to simply make taking a test more fun. While increasing the motivation of the user to learn is paramount, making Q&A fun is not nearly as efffective as using "Gaming Theory" to create a simulation, scenario, adventure, or some other type of realistic challenge, with relevant scoring, feedback, and consequences. Gaming Theory depends on creating risk to the learner. Risk that is dependent on providing the most successful (and quickest) path through the experience based on actually learning. Making mistakes or guessing should cause not only the same consequences the learner should experience on the job, but should also extend the amount of time required to complete the learning via additional feedback and repetitive success to overcome the intial failures. To simplify, the learning designer must ask the question "what mistake would the learner make if this fact, concept, or procedure is not known?" Then the game must ensure that mistake is not only available, and a likely choice, but must seem to be the appropriate choice to the uninformed and provide realistic and relevant consequences of making the choice.   ![Allen Interactions](https://blog.alleninteractions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/assets/images/logos/Allen%20Interactions%20Logos%20-%202021/ai-symbol-green%20(3).png?width=135&height=135&name=ai-symbol-green%20(3).png) ## About the Author: Allen Interactions ## Comments ## Would you like to leave a comment? ## Related Blog Posts ![](https://blog.alleninteractions.com/hs-fs/file-14602087-jpeg/images/journey-game-screenshot-20-b.jpeg?width=316&name=journey-game-screenshot-20-b.jpeg) Blog [Game-Like](https://blog.alleninteractions.com/bid/89707/Game-Like) by Steve Lee, strategic relationship manager These days more and more "games" seem to be popping up in e-Learning. The problem is these games have no ... By: Allen Interactions | Aug, 2012 Category: [Custom Learning](https://blog.alleninteractions.com/topic/custom-learning) ![](https://blog.alleninteractions.com/hs-fs/file-2638083609-jpg/1Website_Images/7_Blog/2015/GamficationResources-1.jpg?width=316&name=GamficationResources-1.jpg) Blog [40+ Game Design Resources for IDs, Trainers, Educators & Practitioners](https://blog.alleninteractions.com/40-game-design-resources-for-ids-trainers-educators-practitioners) by Steve Lee, strategic relationship manager These days more and more "games" seem to be popping up in e-Learning. The problem is these games have no ... By: Allen Interactions | Mar, 2015 Category: [Custom Learning](https://blog.alleninteractions.com/topic/custom-learning) ![](https://blog.alleninteractions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Hitchhikers%20Guide%20to%20the%20e-Learning%20Galaxy.jpg?width=316&name=Hitchhikers%20Guide%20to%20the%20e-Learning%20Galaxy.jpg) Blog [Michael Allen: Hitchhiker’s Guide to the e-Learning Galaxy](https://blog.alleninteractions.com/michael-allen-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-elearning-galaxy) by Steve Lee, strategic relationship manager These days more and more "games" seem to be popping up in e-Learning. The problem is these games have no ... By: Allen Interactions | Dec, 2016 Category: [Custom Learning](https://blog.alleninteractions.com/topic/custom-learning), [Dr. Michael Allen](https://blog.alleninteractions.com/topic/dr-michael-allen) [Go to Top ](https://blog.alleninteractions.com/bid/24813/Games-vs-Gaming-Creating-Custom-e-Learning#) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Allen Interactions", "url" : "https://blog.alleninteractions.com/author/allen-interactions" }, "datePublished" : "2009-05-18T20:46:00.000Z", "headline" : "Games vs. Gaming: Creating Custom e-Learning", "image" : [ "https://blog.alleninteractions.com/hs-fs/file-5413236-jpg/images/lee_steve_(2).jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.alleninteractions.com/bid/24813/Games-vs-Gaming-Creating-Custom-e-Learning", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.alleninteractions.com/hubfs/Copy%20of%20It%20is%20not%20the%20strongest%20of%20the%20species%20that%20survive%2c%20nor%20the%20most%20intelligent%2c%20but%20the%20one%20most%20responsive%20to%20change%E2%80%99%20(11)-1.png" }, "name" : "Allen Interactions" } } ```