This week you are asked to blog about how you incorporate gaming, gamification, game thinking, or design thinking into your class. How? What are your objectives?
Since I teach Read 180, gamification strategies have always been a part of my class because the students use R180 software everyday. When they first log in to their home screen, their “news feed” shows them their latest streaks and achievements. I have always appreciated and celebrated these streaks because they are based on actual reading achievement and are not artificial badges that I have seen on some other sites. I also think the concept of “leveling up” is very motivating for kids and is a great visual way for them to see their progress. Introducing challenges where failure is expected and even necessary really encourages even my quietest students to join in. I think back to some of my favorite teachers who made learning so fun simply because of their enthusiasm. Even the most boring worksheet was fun because we got to use a highlighter or smelly marker. Anytime teachers can make learning fun, whether through a digital tool or old school competitions, kids benefit. I was inspired by one of the TED speakers to learn more about the online games that kids use today because our generation is more out of touch than any other generation before us. This seemed surprising to me, but it rang true since I have 2 teenagers who are growing up in a world that is very different from the one I lived in. I decided to create an account on Clash Royale since my 16 year son old just reached Legendary status- whoa, right? He has been working for over a year on this accomplishment and regularly told me about different arenas/spells/hog riders/treasurechests/barbarians/goblinhuts/gems/knights/princes/archers/witches/muskateers/minion hoardes/hidden teslas/ and the list goes on and on...I always feigned interest and told him “Great Job!”, but once I experienced the many challenges I faced as a newbie in the game I gained a greater appreciation for his success. The roles are now reversed because I am seeking his advice about which cards I should put in my Battle Deck and should I upgrade my Valkyrie? (Pretty nerdy, but actually fun!) I try to think metacognitively about this game and why it is so addicting (incentives to log in every 3 hours, rewards for partial accomplishments, social teams that support each other and have “friendly battles”, different levels and opportunities that only unlock at higher levels). My struggle now is how to use some of these same concepts in my project? I hadn’t considered it before I began my prototype so I am wondering how I might leverage this idea?
5 Comments
Florencia
12/4/2016 10:40:54 am
Wow, what a great idea to start playing the games your kids are playing and know a little bit more about their love for gaming. I have two daughters and they never got into the more "advanced or heady-duty" video games (the most they do is Wii every once in a while).
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Kristin Drew
12/4/2016 12:14:35 pm
Dana, really great that you embraced your son's game! Not only for this class and your growth in the area, but the connection you made with him, and him being the expert, is a fabulous opportunity for your mother-son relationship.
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Kristin Drew
12/4/2016 12:15:51 pm
PS- loved the picture- reminded me of the Jane McGonigal talk when she describe the face in her photo!
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Kristin Pruitt
12/6/2016 08:34:28 pm
I love that you signed up to play a game your teenager has been playing! I was inspired by Jane McGonigal's Ted Talk! I checked out 'A world without oil' and would love to incorporate it into an Earth Day study in the spring. I also very identified many of my own students and their drive to level up in a video game, but their absolute feet dragging when it comes to any kind of school work that does not involve technology. How do we as educators get that intense focus and drive to transfer over into every aspect of our/their day?
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Jenny
12/7/2016 04:15:09 pm
I love that you have started playing games with your son for so many reasons! What a great opportunity to connect with him and allow him to be the expert. Also to get a feel for benefits of gaming that Jane McGonigal described in her TED Talk.
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Dana HandI teach Read 180 at Northwood Elementary School and I am passionate about reading (obviously!) In my "free time" I love hanging out with my 2 teenagers and taking our two dogs for long walks. Archives
March 2017
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