I have to admit that before this class, I had not given much thought to what gaming or gamification were and how they could be utilized in the classroom. I had a difficult time telling them apart as well. Now I know that gaming is when students play games in order to learn about specific content matter, while on the other hand, gamification is when students are in a game simulation themselves. For example, Class Dojo, where students can get points for doing well in class.
Gaming and gamification are excellent ways in which students can learn in a fun and engaging manner. Students will be learning while enjoying playing the games and they can stay more focused on the task at hand if they are acquiring points or badges along the way. Unfortunately, I do not have the ability to explore games and gamification with my students at the moment, as a result of sitting in as Assistant Principal at our school sight. These last few weeks have proven to be challenging for me in terms of trying new things with my students and being more hands-on with new tools. I know that some of the students I serviced in small groups are using various tools with their homeroom teachers. For example: Class Dojo, I-station, Reading Eggs, Brain Pop JR, Prodigy, and Star Fall, among many others. I hear they love to play these games and are much more engaged during this time in their classrooms.
2 Comments
Stephanie Jones
4/30/2018 10:03:12 pm
I think that spreading the knowledge about the power of gaming will help teachers get on board. I know that I myself did not realize the power it played in education until now. I know that they are fun and exciting, but I tend to pick the sites with more academic language and rigor. Learning new things is a challenge and when 'we' the teacher don't play the games it is sometimes hard to tell which site the students would benefit the most from.
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Emily Feil
5/1/2018 03:40:10 pm
It's interesting to think of gamification at the school site level in your role as temporary Assistant Principal. What would it do to the climate of the school if the entire campus became a game? Maybe campus supervisors could issue bonus points or game currency for positive actions on the playground. Students might enjoy PBIS more if they could earn badges--maybe one for never seeing you. :^) Implementing is definitely more work than you could take on in a temporary role, but it is fun to imagine.
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