A Whole New World....Gamification in the Classroom

Tobye Ertelt
Oct 18, 2015
3 min read

This is a year of great possibilities...and a little adrenaline rush that goes along with the risk-taking and challenges that come with the great possibilities.

One of the great possibilities that is springing up in classroooms around the nation is the idea of implementing game-based learning or gamifying their classrooms. When gaming first entered the picture, it wasn't an area that education even considered. Even today, the idea of using gaming as a learning tool scares many. Not because the concept is negative, rather because we have all heard about the negative side effects on our children and our society because of gaming. However, education's perspective of gaming is changing. While this new idea takes place, there are many different types of gamification or game-based learning happening. For the terms of what we're talking about, this quote explains where we are starting: "Gamification is the use of game-thinking and game mechanics in a non-game context in order to engage users and solve problems." (idyeah.com) In other words, we are using the aspects of game playing to creeate authentic learning opportunities for our students which do more than give us correct answers; rather it allows our students opportunities to take their learning and create or experience new learning.

What we are aiming for is what Angela Duckworth calls Grit. In her TED Talk, Angela explains her work with students who succeed and how they possess an unmeasurable skill called grit. We all know what grit is, courage and resolve, strength of character; however, being intangible means that we don't know how to measure it or encourage it necessarily. Often times, it is something we just know when we see it. However, it is a key to success in this new world of ours. It is a stronger quality than memorization or being a good test taker, it is the ability to perservere even when we fail. My hope is that by integrating ideas of gamification into our lessons, we encourage the kids to grab onto their grit and use it to learn and achieve great things.

This month, we are tackling gamification in 8th grade in a couple of ways. In Mrs. Gregoire's class, we had students take the learning of the Corps of Discovery/Lewis and Clark Expedition and create a game. The problem posed to them took learning from their 7th grade Science class and the 6th Extinction theory and their learning from Lewis and Clark to solve a problem. The situation presented that the sixth extinction starts in 25 years and the president has ordered your team to explore some planets they believe are habitable. This meant that the teams created planets with the same challenges and opportunities as the Corps of Discovery recorded. Then, they created a board game to teach the pioneers coming to the planet how to survive. This highliy engaging and creative project was amazing to see and even more amazing when the students played each other's games and evaluated them. It was a day of great learning and fun.

Another gamification is happening in 8th grade History. Mr. Trahant and Mrs. Gregoire are having students experience the Oregon Trail through a gamified choose your own adventure. Teams will be planning their journey, gathering their supplies, navigating the trail depending on the month they chose to leave, and experiencing the successes and dangers the trail had to offer. It will be an adventurous time for all.

While gamification is still a new concept, and navigating the tools and ideas to use it, this is a great possibility of learning for both students and us. So.... deep breath and jump! Here we go!