GAMIFICATIONIN THE

CL ASSROOMC O U R T N E Y B A R O N

T E A C H I N G A N D L E A R N I N G L I B R A R I A N

O X F O R D C O L L E G E L I B R A R Y

W H AT I S G A M I F I C AT I O N ?

Application of gaming elements to non-gaming

scenarios.

New concept with old roots

What makes games successful, powerful, engaging? Apply those techniques to non-game situations

Playing a game is the voluntary attempt to overcome

unnecessary obstacles.

Bernard Suits,The Grasshopper: Games, Life, and Utopia

W H Y G A M I F Y T E A C H I N G A N D L E A R N I N G ?

Gamifying teaching and learning:

Encourages learning and boosts motivation

Applies to various learning styles

Students work together and build bonds

Fosters critical thinking, leadership, teamwork, and problem

solving

Playing a game is satisfying

Provides instant feedback and gratification

Heightened sense of achievement

Successful educational games have these

characteristics:

Clear learning objectives

Provides intrinsic motivation & regular feedback

Engages students

Interactive & social

High level of player participation

Challenging, but low level of frustration

Simple complex games not better

Challenges with educational games:

Must be tied to course content and learning outcomes

Educational games are not voluntary

Students need motivation (grades, points, credit)

Require in-class time probably wont play in their free time

H O W D O Y O U G A M I F Y Y O U R C L A S S E S ?

Playing and creating games

Points:

Encourage and motivate students to accomplish tasks

Students may work harder in exchange for points personal accomplishment or competition

Allow instructor to provide feedback frequently, easily, and quickly

Leaderboards/Scoreboards:

Allow students to see how they compare to their peers

Keeps grades confidential

Digital Badges:

Visual indicator of accomplishment or skill in a learning

environment

Portable validation of knowledge

Tied to online classroom (MOOC, LMS)

Kahoot!

Free game-based response system

Students work individually or in teams

Timed questions answer as quickly as possible

Displays scoreboard between each question

Students can use pseudonyms

Students join with a game pin no accounts required

Kahoot.it

Make Kahoot! work for you:

Assess student learning, review concepts, teach new

material, facilitate classroom discussion

Multiple correct answers can spark discussion or debate

Formative assessment: instructor & students can spot gaps

in learning and immediately address them

Incorporate videos and images for multimodal learning

Use Kahoot! to introduce a new topic

G A M I F I C AT I O N AT O X F O R D & E M O R Y

Disciplinary Applications: Anthropology Alicia DeNicola:

Games are fascinating to cultural anthropologists cross-cultural implications, fun but also serious, appeal to both kids and adults

Anth 101: students make their own games based on Trobriand Islands culture, specifically the economic and kinship systems

Students think critically about rules that guide behavior and practice in life and culture

Anth 353: Students play Settlers of Catan in class

Simplified barter system, connects goods to culture and worth, win by getting more resources

Students think about success and the ideology of growth

Systems and culture are constructed

What did the students learn from this project?

It breaks down the my culture is the best mentality

It makes you look at how you live life you question why you do things the way you do

How different cultures connect through trading and giving or receiving gifts

I questioned our contemporary notion of kinship

It makes me question why our society doesnt give... we focus on ourselves our goals, our gains, our achievements

I realized my success in life should be more focused on my friendships and connections

Gamification at Emory David Morgen:

Project Manager of Domain of Ones Own and Coordinator of the Emory Writing Program

Eng 181: Read | Write | Play course

Students study the cultural and narrative significance of video games

Gamifies the course with badges and points

Uses gaming terminology (assignments quests)

Students produce a podcast series on games and gaming

Roleplaying: each student takes a turn as Producer and Assistant Producer for one episode

Reacting to the Past:

Program housed at Barnard College of Columbia University

Role playing games based on historical events and classic texts

Sessions run by students with instructors as advisors

Students devise their own course of action to win the game and

change the course of history

Transcends disciplinary structures

Virtual Reality

GAMIFICATIONRESOURCES