Quest vs. Drive: When each is appropriate
Knowledge Guru has three game apps that offer different learner and gameplay experiences. Quest uses a question/answer format. Drive uses mini-games that are more robust in the gaming aspect and go beyond simple question/answer. This article explains the main differences between Quest and Drive in terms of instructional design, use cases, and player experience.
Want the short and sweet version? Here’s a summary chart.
Now, let’s break it down. When it comes to instructional design, all the Knowledge Guru apps share four core design elements, but there are a lot of differences as well. The chart below shows these differences.
Attribute | Drive – Daily 3 minigame delivery | Drive – Custom minigame delivery | Quest |
Uses some method of spacing/repetition to reinforce and enable remembering. | X | X | X |
Ties to scoring performance. | X | X | X |
Links content to learning objectives. | X | X | X |
Provides immediate feedback. | X | X | X |
Heavily emphasizes adaptive, personalized learning with app adjusting learning content based on user’s performance and confidence ratings. | X | ||
Optimized for microlearning with a goal of 5 minutes/session and experiences that require about 2-3 weeks of effort to conclude. | X | ||
Game spacing and order can be customized. | X | ||
Players work toward a mastery rating. Spaced repetition influenced by player’s performance and confidence. | X | X | |
Uses mini-games as means of practice; each mini-game focuses on a single learning objective for laser focus. | X | X | |
On any day of play, players will encounter a maximum of 3 learning objectives. | X | ||
Integrates Bloom’s taxonomy into creation of objectives AND into association of specific mini-games with specific levels of Bloom’s taxonomy. | X | X | |
Repeats every topic in each World of game. Players get first iteration of content in World A, second iteration in World B, and final in World C. | X | ||
Concludes each world with a “bonus gate” game. This game presents learners with questions they made errors on FIRST. | X | ||
Allows authors to adjust game spacing. | X | X | |
Several Q-type choices including ability to incorporate URLs for videos and online resources into questions. | X | ||
Includes option to have “performance challenges,” which are a means of providing Accounts for need to provide skill practice or job-related activities. | X | ||
Every topic in game has learning objectives associated with it. Every learning objective has question sets or game content associated with it. | X | X | X |
Each Knowledge Guru app has a unique user experience and game design. The chart below describes their unique attributes.
Attribute | Drive – Daily 3 minigame delivery | Drive – Custom minigame delivery | Quest |
Optimized for phone, tablet, or desktop | X | X | X |
Game elements: mastery scoring, leaderboards, mini-games w/ mini-challenges, aesthetics, personalization, feedback. | X | X | |
Game elements: leaderboards, personalization options (character, Guru selection), feedback, levels, star ratings, power-ups, aesthetics, challenge. | X | ||
Intended to mirror experience of casual mobile game with quick in/out. Most sophisticated look/feel with goal toward “minimalism.” | X | ||
Larger area for questions and for images associated w/questions. | X | ||
Most sophisticated use of learning games, going beyond simple Q&A. | X | X | |
Provides most robust player-facing analytics and ID of strengths/weaknesses. | X | X | |
Player-facing analytics that show scoring, rank, and performance plus player summary report given after each World of play. | X |
The chart below shows the possible use cases for each Knowledge Guru app.
Use Case | Drive – Daily 3 minigame delivery | Drive – Custom minigame delivery | Quest |
Pre-work | X | ||
Post-training reinforcement | X | X | X |
Targeted to sales reps/sales training reinforcement | X | X | |
Can be used to reinforce product positioning, industry knowledge, competitors, objection handling, etc. | X | X | |
Play during a live event | X | X | |
Product and process training | X | ||
Compliance training | X |
Here are some questions that might help you decide.
Not sure which app is right?
- Are you limited to IE8? If IE8 is an absolute requirement, then Legend is the game type you need to use.
- Do you want option of play on a smartphone? If yes, use Quest or Drive.
- Are you focused on micro-learning? If yes, Drive or Quest is best.
- Do you need learners to only be able to complete questions associated with ONE topic at a time? If controlling access to topics matters, then go with Legend or Drive with Custom minigame delivery.
- Would you like the game to include skill components – where players actually practice a skill or do something in addition to answering game questions? If yes, choose Quest.
- Do you want game play to continue across several days or weeks to maximize benefits of spaced repetition?If so, choose Quest or Drive Daily 3 minigame delivery.
- Does your game need more than 4 topics? If so, choose Quest or Drive.
- Are you looking for a one-time, quick-play experience? Choose Legend – you can set up a small game that only has 9 to 12 question sets. People can play in about 15 minutes/ time. Use it to reinforce 1-3 key concepts.
- Do you want to incorporate video?If so, choose Quest or Drive.
- Is your focus reinforcement and / or adaptive learning? Choose Drive.