More than a map: How we turned "Return to office" dread into an award-winning learning adventure

Picture this: After nearly five years of thriving in the remote work realm, you receive the call—it’s time to return to the office. An undercurrent of excitement mixed with uncertainty fills the air. “What will the new office look like? Where will I sit? How will I accomplish my work in this new environment? How can I possibly recreate the comfort of home in a bustling office? ” These deeply human concerns were echoing in the minds of United States Peace Corps employees as they braced for a new chapter at Peace Corps HQ.

On the other side of this evolving story, the Peace Corps’ Knowledge and Learning Unit (KLU) had just rolled out its new learning management system, Learning Space. The KLU team—spearheaded by a dynamic Cynuria contractor, were on a mission to empower course developers across the Peace Corps to create more effective learning experiences. And the appetite was there – course developers were hungry for more advanced, high-impact strategies.

Enter the H5P game map—an adventurous activity that could turn mundane content into an epic quest. Imagine transforming a traditional training module into a vibrant journey, where every click unveils a new stage, every stage could contain a secret clue, and even quizzes become challenges in your personal quest for knowledge. This wasn’t just about gamification; it was about redefining the very essence of workplace learning. We’d already explored gamification theory with our H5P award-nominated course on gamification. Now, it was time for a real-world masterpiece, a practical example that course developers could not only learn from but replicate.

The team, led by a visionary Cynuria innovator, embarked on this adventure with a clear mission: to design a gamified roadmap to make the return-to-office experience both engaging and enlightening. Picture bright, animated graphics, a smooth progression from start to finish, and interactive challenges that light up every corner of Peace Corps HQ—this was our answer to the dreary stack of PowerPoint slides and routine handouts that often plague government resources.

But every great adventure comes with its trials. Working within the Peace Corps environment meant navigating the rigorous FedRAMP process for all internet systems. Our toolkit was strictly limited to what was natively available within the LMS. And AI tools? Not just disallowed, but entirely blocked. These constraints, however, didn't stifle creativity; they fueled it. They pushed us to be more innovative, more resourceful, and ultimately, to create an example that was not only engaging but also incredibly practical for developers working under similar limitations. The bonus? A ready-to-use template, empowering course developers to hit the ground running.

When the H5P group announced the submissions for the Second Annual Awards, we knew our creation was special. And then came the moment of glory: with over 200 votes, our project—appropriately named “The Peace Corps HQ: The Ultimate Navigation Adventure”—emerged as the undisputed first-ever winner of the H5P Community Choice Award! In a time when companies everywhere are navigating the complexities of returning to office spaces, our project resonated deeply. It was a timely demonstration of how gamification can transform ordinary tasks into engaging, energy-infused journeys by offering a positive, proactive approach to a common challenge.

Today, course developers across the organization are embracing our model, integrating the game map and other dynamic gamified elements into their curricula. With 68% of adult learners reporting that game-based strategies boost engagement, our experiment is not just a one-off win—it’s a movement.

Our philosophy is simple: innovation thrives when challenges become opportunities. We invite all learning teams to see beyond the traditional, to reimagine training as an adventure where every challenge is an opportunity to learn and grow. And the real win? It’s witnessing how a thoughtful, human-centered approach to learning design can turn a challenge into a celebrated success, inspiring learners and developers alike. It's a testament to the idea that even within constraints, with a dash of creativity and a focus on the human experience, we can truly make learning an adventure.

To watch the awards ceremony, view the Getting Started: Gamification and Game-Based Learning project, and play the Peace Corps HQ: The Ultimate Navigation Adventure, please visit the Second Annual H5P Awards page.