Business games have a long tradition in corporate learning and are experiencing a comeback these days because of their unique capability to provide learning through experience. Based on the extended model of learning through experience by David Kolb, it is possible to integrate online business games into blended learning scenarios in corporate learning using its main advantages such as mastering complexity, the achievement of higher cognitive objectives, learning from mistakes without risk through trial and error, learning from operating experience through time-lapse and particularly strong learner motivation. The German insurance industries are using business simulations to teach learners how to act in environments with complex business and economic inter-relationship networks. Using the example of the closed, stochastic and single player online business game “SiVa – a simulation of an insurance agency” – a concept of a blended learning scenario and its theoretical background are presented.

1. ECGBL 2009
Welcome
ECGBL 2009
3. European Conference on Games Based Learning
Author: Dr. Patrick Blum © inside Unternehmensgruppe 2009

2. ECGBL 2009
A Concept for the Integration of Online
Business Games into Blended Learning
Scenarios based on Kolbs Experiential
Learning Theory
Author: Dr. Patrick Blum © inside Unternehmensgruppe 2009

3. ECGBL 2009
inside Business Group
Business Activities
• Full Service Provider in
Corporate Learning
Consulting, Conceptual Design,
Realization, Integration, Marketing,
Controlling
• Insurance and Finance Industries
• e-Learning und Blended Learning
 All from one source!
Author: Dr. Patrick Blum © inside Unternehmensgruppe 2009

4. ECGBL 2009
Corporate Education in the Insurance Industry in Germany
Status Quo
• The education of the sales
personnel is regulated by law
(European Insurance Contract Act)
• 75% are self-employed workers
(exclusively bound to one insurance company)
 Education in the insurance
industries is strictly regulated!
Author: Dr. Patrick Blum © inside Unternehmensgruppe 2009

5. ECGBL 2009
Corporate Education in the Insurance Industry in Germany
Status Quo
Situation
• A “well“ educated attendee becomes a self-employed
manager of an insurance agency…
Questions
• Is there enough knowledge about the network of business
and economic interrelationships in an insurance agency?
• Does he know enough about time management
and self-management?
• Is he able to organize himself and the agency?
• Does he posses business acumen?
Author: Dr. Patrick Blum © inside Unternehmensgruppe 2009

6. ECGBL 2009
Corporate Education in the Insurance Industry in Germany
Status Quo
Situation
• A “well“ educated attendee becomes a self-employed
manager of an insurance agency…
 Working life does not forgive mistakes.
 In working life mistakes cannot be made undone.
 In working life mistake often are painful.
 Consequences mostly become apparent only a long time
after they have been made – mostly too late.
Author: Dr. Patrick Blum © inside Unternehmensgruppe 2009

7. ECGBL 2009
Corporate Education in the Insurance Industry in Germany
Challange
Improvement of the education to prepare the attendees
for their future working life as self-employed workers
Author: Dr. Patrick Blum © inside Unternehmensgruppe 2009

8. ECGBL 2009
Online Business Games
An attempt to prepare attendees for their later working
Why don‘t we simulate an insurance agency???
• Illustrate the complex network of business and economic interrelationships
 General Economic Implications
 Individual Implications in Insurance Agencies
 Planning, Self-Management,
Time Management, Business Analysis
risk-free in time-lapse with fun through trial and error
„Learning by Experience“
Author: Dr. Patrick Blum © inside Unternehmensgruppe 2009

9. ECGBL 2009
SiVa – An Insurance Agency Simulation
Realization with Experts from the Insurance Industries
From subject matter experts for real working life!
Author: Dr. Patrick Blum © inside Unternehmensgruppe 2009

10. ECGBL 2009
Design of SiVa
Basic Simulation Principle: Activities, Actions and Key Figures
Weekly planning and extrapolation for the monthly status
Planning Status Planning
weekly monthly weekly
Activties Extrapolation Activties
& Results
Calculation
Actions Actions
Month Next Month
Simulation Time: 18 Months
Author: Dr. Patrick Blum © inside Unternehmensgruppe 2009

11. ECGBL 2009
Design of SiVa
Basic Simulation Principle: Activities, Actions and Key Figures
Author: Dr. Patrick Blum © inside Unternehmensgruppe 2009

12. ECGBL 2009
Design of SiVa
Basic Simulation Principle: Activities, Actions and Key Figures
Control mechanisms „Activities“ and „Actions“
Author: Dr. Patrick Blum © inside Unternehmensgruppe 2009

13. ECGBL 2009
Design of SiVa
Basic Simulation Principle: Activities, Actions and Key Figures
Control mechanisms „Activities“ and „Actions“
Author: Dr. Patrick Blum © inside Unternehmensgruppe 2009

14. ECGBL 2009
Design of SiVa
Basic Simulation Principle: Activities, Actions and Key Figures
Control mechanisms „Activities“ and „Actions“
Author: Dr. Patrick Blum © inside Unternehmensgruppe 2009

15. ECGBL 2009
Design of SiVa
Basic Simulation Principle: Activities, Actions and Key Figures
Author: Dr. Patrick Blum © inside Unternehmensgruppe 2009

16. ECGBL 2009
Design of SiVa
Basic Simulation Principle: Activities, Actions and Key Figures
Status indication by quantitative and qualitative “Key Figures”
Author: Dr. Patrick Blum © inside Unternehmensgruppe 2009

17. ECGBL 2009
Design of SiVa
Basic Simulation Principle: Activities, Actions and Key Figures
Status indication by quantitative and qualitative “Key Figures”
Author: Dr. Patrick Blum © inside Unternehmensgruppe 2009

18. ECGBL 2009
Design of SiVa
Basic Simulation Principle: Activities, Actions and Key Figures
Status indication by quantitative and qualitative “Key Figures”
Author: Dr. Patrick Blum © inside Unternehmensgruppe 2009

19. ECGBL 2009
Design of SiVa
Basic Simulation Principle: Events
Randomly created events
Planning Status Planning
weekly monthly weekly
Activties Extrapolation Activties
& Results
Calculation
Actions Actions
pos.
Events neg.
Month Next Month
Author: Dr. Patrick Blum © inside Unternehmensgruppe 2009

20. ECGBL 2009
SiVa and Blended Learning
The (inside) Definition of Blended Learning
• Combination of e-Learning with traditional learning and training concepts
• More method-mix, less media- or technologie-mix
• Multiphase Concept
 Face-to-face-training, online-learning, transfer into practice
• Supervision by the e-tutor
 FAQ, problem solving, group cohesiveness, motivation
Nice-Guide-on-the-Side
Author: Dr. Patrick Blum © inside Unternehmensgruppe 2009

21. ECGBL 2009
SiVa and Blended Learning
David Kolbs Model for Learning by Experience adaped for GBL
1
Gaming
Experience
4
Trial in new
Gaming Observation
Situations and
Reflecion
2
Creation of
abstract
Concepts
3
Learning Prozess
Author: Dr. Patrick Blum © inside Unternehmensgruppe 2009

22. ECGBL 2009
SiVa and Blended Learning
Extended Model for Learning by Experience in Blended Learning Scenarios
Introduction Motivation for
and Gaming
Motivation Experiences
1
Gaming
Experience
4 Joint Analysis
Trial in new of the playful
Gaming Observation Experiences
New Input
Situations and
Reflecion Explanation
of theoretical
Background
2
Creation of
abstract
Concepts
Feedback
3
Training Process Joint
generalization
Learning Process of the Findings
Author: Dr. Patrick Blum © inside Unternehmensgruppe 2009

23. ECGBL 2009
SiVa and Blended Learning
Blended Learning Setup
Kickoff e-Learning-Phase Debriefing
• Motivation • Group session with • Individual gaming with SiVa • Feedback
• Objectives SiVa • SiVa Contest • Question and
• Introduction • Single player • Expert Chats Problems
of the e-Trainer session with SiVa • Conclusions for
• Panel Discussion
• Plenary Session • Group specific the Working Life
with SiVa theory • Award Ceremony
• Introduction to the of the SiVa Contest
SiVa Contest
1 Day 1 Week 1 Day
Supervision by the trainer
Author: Dr. Patrick Blum © inside Unternehmensgruppe 2009

24. ECGBL 2009
SiVa and Blended Learning
Conclusions
• Online Business Games provide “Learning by Experience”
• The learning experience of Online Business Games is risk-free
• On the basis of the extension of Kolb’s cycle of learning it is possible to
easily integrate an online business game into blended learning
• Online Business Games provide momentous occasions for trainers
- On-the-job examples
- Problem solving
- General and individual implications
- Abstract concepts
Author: Dr. Patrick Blum © inside Unternehmensgruppe 2009

25. ECGBL 2009
SiVa and Blended Learning
Conclusions 2
• Supervised by the trainer the conclusions for working life
can be elaborated and finalized
• Using online business games in blended learning scenarios
requires trainers
- with profound knowledge in experiential learning
- high capabilities in systemic thinking and system analysis
- experience in the usage of e-learning tools
• The knowledge achieved through playing business games
in blended learning scenarios is the outcome of a trainer-guided
but self-organized, entertaining, motivating and reflective learning process
directly applicable in working life
Author: Dr. Patrick Blum © inside Unternehmensgruppe 2009

26. ECGBL 2009
Thank you
Dr. Patrick Blum
blum.patrick@inside-online.de
Author: Dr. Patrick Blum © inside Unternehmensgruppe 2009