Games or other interesting ways to train?

[Supes]

I'm looking for some different ways to provide training to my office. Panels, slideshows, Q&As/Office Hours, etc. have gotten "stale" according to feedback we've received so I'm trying to expand how we provide trainings. I saw that GSA was looking to develop a game in 2014 but I haven't seen any results from it: 

https://www.nextgov.com/emerging-tech/2014/01/gsa-wants-use-computer-games-teach-contracting

I've also seen the "A FAR Better View" game from DAU and that the Army has their own game (which I cannot access): https://armygamestudio.com/ipg/

Has anyone here had any luck with games or other non-standard trainings? If so, please share!

[C Culham]

From past memory I did an internet search on this - "Contracting Jeopardy Game".  If you have not tried it take a look.

[formerfed]

I don’t think anything came from the GSA effort from ten yers ago.  I believe they awarded a few contracts for companies to develop prototypes.  I’m guessing processes were too high for what they wanted.

[Don Mansfield]

I use the Slido plug-in for PowerPoint to get more audience engagement. I've had positive feedback.

[Vern Edwards]

On 1/6/2025 at 8:03 AM, Supes said:

Has anyone here had any luck with games or other non-standard trainings? If so, please share!

What's wrong with reading books or chapters in books and conducing small discussion groups? That's how they do it at Oxford. I presume your staff are grownups. Do they need games?

I got the following from Google AI:

Quote

Learning through reading/discussion groups" refers to a method of education where individuals learn by actively reading a text together and then discussing their interpretations, thoughts, and perspectives on the material, fostering critical thinking, deeper understanding, and collaborative learning through open dialogue. 

Doesn't work for the lazy or terminally afraid, I'm sorry to say.

How about a game that would work like Monopoly? You roll the dice and hop around the board. For every landing place there is a set of topical questions from which a question must be drawn. E.G., "What's the proper measure of an equitable adjustment?" Answer the question correctly and you get a hotel. The ultimate winner gets a day of administrative leave. Answer wrongly and you have to go backwards and work overtime. Answer wrong again and you have to write everyone's synopses for a month.

Actually, that sounds like it could be good for a fun lunch hour. The Contracting Game®

[REA'n Maker]

I'm not sure "games" are a good way to garner respect from our fellow procurement professionals and customers. What this profession needs are more serious thinkers, not thoughtless memorizers. Applying procurement principles is hard; memorizing procurement principles is easy.