Gamification - Ted Talk
Gamification in the Classroom
Gamification is a term that has been around since before 2011. Gamification is the process of using game thinking and mechanics to engage audiences and solving problems. In Gabe Zichermann's Ted Talk he discusses how Generation G is leading the trend of Gamification. Generation G is comprised of millennials and everyone younger. You may be wondering how did Gamification come to be? A lot of research has been done on learning and gaming. Arne May at the University of Regensburg in Germany did a study on how simple task to learn like juggling in a 12 week period showed an increase in grey matters in the brain. In 2008 they redid the study and discovered that the act of learning produced an increase in brain matter. Andrea Kuszewski spoke at Harvard about 5 Things People do to Increase Brain Matter. These 5 things are seek novelty, challenge yourself, think creatively, do things the hard way, and network. All of these 5 things can be found in very successful video games. An educator named Ananth Pai replaced standard curriculum and with a video game based curriculum he designed. His students were below a third grade level in reading and math After 18 weeks of his curriculum his students tested on a mid fourth grade level. With all the research that has been done it has been predicted that companies all over the world will be using gamification.
This Ted Talk was given by Gab Zicherman in 2011. Even though it was given 11 years ago I see exactly what he is talking about. In his talk he give the example of how cars have gamification in their design. We see it in the Eco mode - there is a plant that grows the more eco friendly you drive or wilts when you don't. The minute I heard this example I thought about my car that was created in 2018 and on the Eco screen there is a blue bar that grows the more eco friendly I drive. I have bought into the gamification because I have subconsciously decided that I am going to see how much I can make this bar grow. It was like a challenge and I had to win even though I was not competing or winning anything! So as a millennial I completely agree that my generation and future generations are driving the gamification process and how everything is evolving around this as well.
After listening to the Ted Talk I realized I don't use technology every day in my classroom or for a whole duration of the class period. I would say on average my students use their Chromebook for up to 30/40 minutes a day in my classroom alone. On the Chromebooks students are using review games, completing classwork, and testing. When my students are not using their Chromebook they are still engaging in technology from the Smartboard, Google Slides, or audio books. Additionally students are on their Chromebook during computer class as well as other subject areas for the same reasons.
This Ted Talk was given by Gab Zicherman in 2011. Even though it was given 11 years ago I see exactly what he is talking about. In his talk he give the example of how cars have gamification in their design. We see it in the Eco mode - there is a plant that grows the more eco friendly you drive or wilts when you don't. The minute I heard this example I thought about my car that was created in 2018 and on the Eco screen there is a blue bar that grows the more eco friendly I drive. I have bought into the gamification because I have subconsciously decided that I am going to see how much I can make this bar grow. It was like a challenge and I had to win even though I was not competing or winning anything! So as a millennial I completely agree that my generation and future generations are driving the gamification process and how everything is evolving around this as well.
After listening to the Ted Talk I realized I don't use technology every day in my classroom or for a whole duration of the class period. I would say on average my students use their Chromebook for up to 30/40 minutes a day in my classroom alone. On the Chromebooks students are using review games, completing classwork, and testing. When my students are not using their Chromebook they are still engaging in technology from the Smartboard, Google Slides, or audio books. Additionally students are on their Chromebook during computer class as well as other subject areas for the same reasons.
This year, being at a new school, I will be using i-Ready for ELA. i-Ready is a way for educators to measure and monitor students achievements of standards, resources, and lessons. I have heard mixed reviews on the program but I am excited learn how I can utilize it in my classroom. I would like to start implementing virtual fieldtrips to help bring to life what novels we are reading and to help spark creativity in their learning. This upcoming school year I am excited to implement different technology, resources, and learning styles into my classroom.
Gamification is an interesting topic! From your response Rachel, I realize that I do not utilize technology much during my classes. I do need to increase the usage of technology in my Social Studies classes. I am going to look more into gamification. I must say that the virtual fieldtrips were beneficial to my students. Especially when things were shut down during COVID. My students were engaged and wanted to do it a little more. I have just heard of another resource, Imagine Learning, that was good and some schools and after school programs are using it. You may want to look into it.
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