Developed by CS Learning Solutions, the gaming technology will be used for interactive exercises that will test participants' retention of course material. The games are scenario driven so that each user may experience a different outcome based on decisions they make in the course of their investigations. The proprietary online platform allows games to be scored on the fly with passing grades reported electronically.
"Rather than learning through lecture, game-based programs immerse students in realistic scenarios and challenge them to make decisions that affect design outcomes. They will learn and retain more from the virtual experience," says Fred Vapenik, chief marketing officer of CertainTeed.
The game-based activities, which were announced at the AIA National Convention and Design Expo in Los Angeles, are designed to help participants retain more of what they learn, which will better prepare professionals to apply what they learn in their practice. The first continuing education courses to incorporate gaming technology are "Systems Approach to Designing a House: Part I," "Systems Approach to Designing a House: Part II," and "Systems Approach to Designing a House: Part III," and can be found online atwww.certainteed.com/continuinged.
