Total 516 words used.
America loses $550B annually because 2 out of 3 workers are disengaged. In 2023 Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy called America to be in a “loneliness epidemic”, citing that 40% Americans felt isolated. And yet most training/learning systems are lonely experiences.
At Stories & Wisdom we enable inclusive cultures of connection as customized online training for our clients with STORIES.
We customized STORIES to our client’s values, strategies and priorities and created an online learning environment where every individual's unique perspective was not only valued but celebrated. Our flagship product, "STORIES," is a synchronous multiplayer digital card game, backed by neuroscience and built upon the pillars of storytelling, gamification, and social learning. This was delivered as an online social learning events every quarter with qualitative data analytics that showed how the group was evolving and where the new hotspots were for leadership to work on. This actionable feedback loop is also an innovation missed by traditional online training systems.
Innovatively, STORIES debunks traditional online training models by shifting the paradigm from expert-driven systems to a social learning platform. While most online training systems focus on delivering content from experts to participants, STORIES facilitates learning through peer-to-peer interaction, fostering collaboration and bonding among team members. This approach not only enhances learning outcomes but also enables teams to tackle problems collectively, mirroring the collaborative environment they navigate in real-world scenarios.
STORIES also disrupts the traditional notion of online learning environments that are solitary experiences where individuals absorb knowledge independently and apply it within teams. By immersing participants in a shared learning experience, STORIES bridges the gap between individual learning and team dynamics, enabling teams to learn and grow together within the same microcosm they navigate daily.
Inclusivity was not an afterthought but the cornerstone of our approach. From the development phase to implementation, our digital platform adhered to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA standards, ensuring that every team member, including our vision-impaired colleague, could actively participate. We had a client member who used a JAWS (Braille) keyboard who loved this feature, while our real-time transcription allowed people with ESL and/or hearing issues to collaborate. Our color choices also was highlighted by people with color blindness, stating that our inclusive design helped them collaborate better.
Participants lauded the event for its ability to foster trust, facilitate genuine connections, and capture emotions in a safe and supportive environment. As a result, our immersive storytelling approach yielded tangible outcomes: enhanced empathy, strengthened team bonds, and clarified roles and responsibilities.
The overall experience received a 9/10 customer rating, with 91.7% of participants acknowledging successful achievement of intended learning objectives. Stakeholders recognized the game’s potential for broader applications, expressing enthusiasm for potential scaling and AI integration. Follow-ups with the client are underway for a broader roll-out.
Nomination Title: Stories: Building a culture of connection with Storytelling, Gamification and Social Learning
