CYOA Job Training

Many people are familiar with choose your own adventure (CYOA) books and games– I remember reading a lot of Goosebumps books as a kid, taking notes on the different routes and puzzle clues. Given the amount of attention and investment that these kinds of games can cultivate, I figured that they can be an engaging tool for workplace learning.

Because I’m trained in youth work, I made the topic about youth work so I wouldn't have to consult outside subject matter experts. In other scenarios, instructional designers will likely have to collaborate with subject matter experts to gain the necessary background knowledge for an effective exercise.

I would primarily recommend this as a midpoint assessment for basic training. While the game does keep score of right and wrong responses, it encourages replay instead of merely keeping track of outcomes. There are many ways to expand this format: adding narration and dialogue, images and reference materials, customizing the player/learner's role for different playthroughs, allowing for player/learner input that future player/learners can view in future plays, etc.