UFI LearnDirect : Planet Work : Adult Basic Skills Simulation

Abstract: Learndirect asked Caspian to engage entry level 1, 2, and 3 learners as part of their ‘i-start’ programme. The goal is to increase personal and social development skills for learners who are about to enter or re-enter the workforce.

Introduction

Learndirect helps community members from all walks of life brush up on skills or learn new ones in changing or difficult times. In this case, Learndirect wanted to help learners who have not been active in the workforce gain confidence about their skills and learn about the technology they might encounter in the modern workplace.

What Thinking Worlds did for LearnDirect

To meet Learndirect’s objectives, Caspian used ThinkingWorlds™ to create “Welcome to Planet Work”, a 3D challenge that immerses learners in the modern workplace. During the challenge, learners control an alien who has crash landed on earth. The alien has no knowledge of Earth or Earthlings, but must somehow find a way to raise money to fix the damaged spaceship.

During the mission to fix the spaceship, learners guide the alien to explore their environment, meet people, and find a job to earn money to buy a new part for the spaceship. Learners build confidence as they mentor the character. They also feel relevance to their own lives, identifying their skills and selecting a job that is most appropriate for those skills. The learners can choose to be an Office Assistant or a Warehouse Assistant. Each offers different opportunities for learning about modern workplace technology and tasks.

Designed to develop personal learning and thinking skills, or PLTS, the challenge gives learners the chance to:

  • Find out information
  • Take part in activities
  • Work as part of a team
  • Organise and priotise tasks
  • Think about problems
  • Make decisions
  • Reflect on what they’ve learned

The challenge is fun and fail safe, and provides reflective learning opportunities. Feedback is given throughout the challenge as positive re-enforcement. At the end of the challenge, the learner receives overall feedback for each PLTS. Using this feedback, tutors help the learners identify opportunities for further improvement in each PLTS area.

Outcome:

  • Learners said this type of eLearning is much more interesting than traditional eLearning, indicating that they are, indeed, engaged
  • Learners requested “more learning like this”
  • Improved independent enquiry, creative thinking, self management, and participation
  • Enthusiasm for Welcome to Planet Work prompted more interested from Learndirect in evaluation courses and learning effectiveness