Gamification in the Classroom

 Hey, Everyone!

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I have recently been challenged to look at my curriculum and develop an instructional design proposal incorporating educational technology and constructivism. According to “Behaviorism, Cognitivism, Constructivism: Comparing Critical Features From an Instructional Design Perspective” by Peggy A. Ertmer and Timothy J. Newby, constructivism is “creat[ing] meaning as opposed to acquiring it” and “involvement in authentic tasks anchored in meaningful contexts (55-56). With this in mind, I thought about what my students find meaningful regarding technology, and my first thought was gaming. Gamification in the classroom is nothing new, but I wanted to take it further by allowing the students to construct something that matters to them and can be a valuable skill in our world of technology. 

The Idea
I initially wanted my kiddos to get into building their own game using literary skills such as narration to create their own world, conflict, and characters. However, some of these programs can be pricey or require more time than I have right now, as students would need to know the basics of coding. Although many kid-friendly game creation programs break down the coding, I would still have to build that knowledge over time, and it may be better for next school year when I can do more planning. Instead, I have figured out how to take different programs the kids already know to create a digital escape room using those same literary skills. 

The Plan

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As of right now, I am planning on making a menu of sorts with some ideas of how students could piece together a digital escape room game. For instance, I saw how students could use a Google Slides template from Genial.ly that gives a great structure for escape rooms. This can be combined with video creation (Flip, CapCut, Brush Ninja, etc.), where they can create narrations, video recordings, and drawn animations. There are also programs such as online crosswords, mazes, and unlock the picture that can be added. If they wanted to add locked aspects, they could add a link to Google Forms where they have to enter the correct code to get the next hint.

The Challenges
Some challenges I may encounter are whether the kids can synthesize so many pieces and ensure that their game can be played smoothly. The option menu will allow students to use the technology they are comfortable with, and if this is a project that continues into other units, they can branch out to trying new tech once they see how their peers utilize it. In addition to the menu, I will have to create some sort of organizer so they understand what academic materials need to be included and how to make it all flow nicely. Lastly, a final checklist may need to be included so students can review their games and troubleshoot issues before publishing it to the class. I’m also a bit concerned about timing, as I do have a teacher I work with and share a curriculum. He isn’t in a place where he is comfortable making such a significant change, but of course, he always supports all my ideas. As a result of us doing something entirely different, I do have to be careful managing my time and staying as aligned as possible with his ELA classes. 

The Excitement!

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However, I am super excited about this project and look forward to giving my kiddos different ways to synthesize what they have learned in a way that is not just writing a paragraph or essay. It shows them how what we are learning in ELA can be fun and applied to areas they are interested in. I have always been a massive fan of gamification but haven’t had the time or the ability to sit down and work out all the components. I’m very excited to see this come together, and I think the students will love working on this. I love looking at my curriculum and figuring out ways to utilize technology to enhance learning for my students. Their world is all about technology, and we need to teach them how to be technologically literate and give them the skills necessary for success in their futures. 

My biggest concern right now is getting all the pieces together in a well-organized and easy-to-understand way in a short amount of time. However, nothing extraordinary ever happens until you try, fail, and try some more. I shall keep you posted!