Students have been much less engaged in school in recent years, according to survey results and anecdotes from educators. In response, schools have made boosting student engagement a top priority for the forseeable future.
Many educators are increasingly turning to game-oriented learning to engage and motivate students. A growing body of research shows gamification and game-based learning can have positive effects on students鈥� cognitive, motivational, and behavioral outcomes.
Gamification is when teachers introduce game-like elements to an existing lesson or activity. For example, they might give out points or badges for correct answers or turning in assignments.
Game-based learning is when educational material is placed inside a game framework, or when the game鈥檚 goals center on the skills or concepts students are supposed to learn. For example, in a game about breeding dragons, students have to understand basic concepts about genetics in order to make choices about which dragons to collect and breed.
91直播 asked educators on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X (formerly known as Twitter) what tech tools they use to gamify their classrooms. Here鈥檚 what they said:
Tools for formative assessments and evidence of academic growth
鈥淏looket and Gimkit are awesome for formative assessments and even helping them understand using data as evidence of growth. They both have excellent banks available, and Blooket will let you import from a Quizziz.鈥�
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鈥淚 only use two really but as study tools. Now that every kid has a Chromebook I try to be mindful of screen time. I use Quizizz and Kahoot, that鈥檚 about it. I also do analog games like Headbands, with cards, stuff like that. We also do a big March Madness battle with Medieval World Achievements putting them in a bracket and voting on the most impactful on our world today.鈥�
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鈥淨uizizz and Blooket are easy to implement and enjoyed by students.鈥�
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鈥淢y kids still LOVE Blooket.鈥�
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鈥淪umDog it鈥檚 very engaging and provides useful data.鈥�
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鈥淕ameful.me. It leverages UDL to gamify your entire course.鈥�
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鈥淚f you鈥檙e willing to build things鈥� then Genially and Thinglink are great resources.鈥�
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鈥淚xl.com, brainpop.com & 99math.com鈥�
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鈥淢颈苍别肠谤补蹿迟.别诲耻鈥�
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Not everyone is a fan of gamifying classrooms
鈥淣eedless; kids need less tech and need more traditional learning skills.鈥�
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鈥淭his focus on entertainment over academics is insane.鈥�
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