Blog Post 8 - Gameification

This blog is motivated by a great little youtube video I watched entitled "IT WORKED: Gamification in the Classroom". (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWEvjhw5rCA)

I'll be honest, the title did seem a bit like clickbait, but in this short video - less than 3 minutes, classroom teacher Justin Gonzales describes his successes his experiences with this technological approach to teaching.

Gonzales defines gamification as "the process of bringing in video game elements and ideas into the classroom".  In his classroom, students work toward game 'badges' of their choice, with unlimited time, and are recognized on a game/leadership wall.  Gonzales recommends using backwards design to establish an end goal, define criteria for what achieving a particular badge will entail, and then teach the content to students.  


While gamification is not technology per se, it does take a concept associated with technology (video games) and use it to grab students.  Gonzales does use interactive google documents to allow students to access his criteria sheets, and monitor their own progress.

Gonzales identified 5 ways this benefits his students:

1) engagement
2) ownership
3) voice and choice
4) recognition
5) providing feedback.


I invite you to check out the video for your own learning, and let me know your thoughts!

Dan

References:

Gonzales, J. (2018, January 15). It worked: Gamification in the classroom. YouTube. Retrieved July 29, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWEvjhw5rCA

Comments

  1. Mrs. Roti7 August 2022 at 07:05

    Hi Dan,

    What a great video! Short and sweet and filled with 5 great tips! Gamification seems like a really great place to start increasing student engagement and then achievement. I like this system. However, does anyone ever feel like teachers have to put on a "show" for our students just to engage them? I have found recently, the attention quite short. I am willing to modify my teaching practice and incorporate technology to spark interest. I can imagine teachers that have in the system for years and are not used to all these changes and perhaps less willing to learn how or why they should adapt.

    Great work and use of graphics. I feel you "screenshot" his ideas quite well.

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    Replies
    1. DoktorO8 August 2022 at 14:14

      Hi Catherine,

      Yes! For years I've told my colleagues "I feel like Fred Penner up there - putting on a show to try to squeeze a few drops of enthusiasm out of the kids!" (Sorry if Fred Penner is a dated reference - he was a singer/storyteller back in the 80's!). I often feel as if I don't sing and dance (I'm being literal here - I actually like singing, so that's okay ;-), I'm not giving enough. I'm literally sweating at the end of some fractions lessons!

      I remember way back to my teacher training days, and a comment by my mentor teacher (an absolute master teacher): "You do a great job captivating the kids. As you progress in your teaching career, you'll need to make sure that in time your LESSONS are what engages the kids, not YOU, because you won't have that kind of energy forever." At the time (20 years ago), I didn't fully understand what she was saying. Now I do. Releasing some of the responsibility for learning back to the kids, involving them and allowing them to choose the direction when appropriate, will hopefully mean they are the ones coming up with the song and dance routines - not me!

      Dan

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