BSkyB
‘Fire Safety @ Sky’ game-based eLearning on Fire Safety precautions and responses.
The challenge
BSkyB has an outstanding record on fire safety and their ‘Fire Safety Code of Practice’ places a responsibility on them to train all staff. It needed an engaging approach to fire safety training that would appeal to all of its employees. The training needed to be memorable and cover:
- The prevention of fires starting in their workplace
- What to do if they discover a fire
- How to respond safely to a fire alarm
BSkyB is in the business of entertainment and demands high production values for all its programmes. Therefore, the expectation of employees would be of a training experience which matches these standards in excitement, involvement, realism and credibility. For learning to be successful, achievable yet challenging objectives must be set. TNA identified these to be:
- Understanding why an act or a situation could be a fire risk and to be able to visually identify these in their own working environment. In other words, to develop their own fire safety ‘radar’
- Knowing how to evacuate any building as quickly and safely as possible if the fire alarm sounds, not simply by following others but by making their own decisions based on a practical understanding of the potential dangers
- Understanding the appropriate safe action if they discover a fire
- If absolutely necessary (ie: if their escape route is blocked), being able to choose and operate the most suitable extinguisher for a specific type of fire
Our solution
‘Bespoke Solution of the Year’ (World of Learning award).
What was needed was a bespoke, interactive learning experience set within a variety of highly realistic BSkyB-style environments; as much a series of games as education, but with a philosophy of learning by doing.
TNA conceived a completely new approach to eLearning that would break the mould of traditional, ‘linear’ training programs to produce far more competent, knowledgeable staff.
TNA modelled actual BSkyB environments in high resolution 3D, with dynamic ‘fly-throughs’ to move between each area of the building. The latest special effects were used to simulate fire, smoke and the realistic operation of extinguishers.
The program delivers 5 exercises:
Hazard Hunter – Spot the fire hazards against the clock, during a 3D journey through BSkyB facilities.
Safety Check – A ‘spot the difference’ style game against the clock, comparing two almost identical 3D scenes for fire hazards and fire equipment.
What if? – A 3D office environment demonstrating the importance of various methods used to prevent a fire and heat spreading through a building, including fire doors and “cable stopping” between rooms. A light hearted exercise delivering serious messages.
Fire – An interactive game in which (after a briefing) the learner must select and use the most appropriate extinguisher to tackle random fires in items. Highly realistic 3D imagery and sound effects. Poor choices (eg: using water on a TV fire) have dramatic results.
Who is it for?
“This groundbreaking piece of eLearning has provided a solution which completely innovates the way we now look at Health & Safety training at work…” – Kenny Henderson, Head of Talent Development Operations
For the ‘Evacuation’ exercise we shot 360 degree panoramic images at BSkyB to enable the learner to explore and move between each area and to take action in a realistic setting.
The program briefly equips learners with core principles and then sets them loose to tackle a range of scenarios. There are frequent decisions to take, often against the clock, and sometimes dramatic outcomes of a poor decision to witness.
Measuring understanding
When the learner has completed all five exercises, they take a final ‘television game show’ themed quiz comprising five questions. Points earned for correct answers are added to their ‘Hot Score’.
This performance-based scoring, measured across decisions made in several quite different exercises, has provided BSkyB with far more insight into the acquired knowledge and competence of its employees.
This ‘Hot Score’ of learner performance is tracked as they tackle the challenges and is saved centrally for management assessment. Learners are effectively demonstrating their understanding by acting and responding quickly and safely.