Tried "Gamification" in my classroom.(Check updated post 283 for User Group info, it's now ready)

[Baby Eater]

Interesting idea good sir. Do you mind if I were to use this in an essay about gamification I myself am writing? I made a bet with my English teacher that if I can make a good example of how video games affect the world he'd give me an A for the quarter. My goal might be a bit less morally balanced than yours but the point of bringing about gamification to the public remains. Kinda

 

[A Free Man]

Snip Snip

I think what you are doing here is amazing. But I should forward the opinion that as a student myself I have experienced teachers who have similar methods.

Let me give you one example. We had a class with a substitute teacher who said quite simply no one is allowed to talk unless I say the following words "you may speak". This meant that no matter what the scenario, unless he said those exact words we were not allowed to speak. Basically each time you spoke was a strike and three strikes meant you stayed back after class. So if you raised your hand and he said "yes?" or "you can speak" and you went on to ask your question you got your first strike, unless he said the words "you may speak".

To be honest I thought it was the dumbest thing I'd ever heard. That was until I noticed that my whole class was essentially in complete silence for the whole period. Even I was as it was entertaining to watch other people mess up in some small way and earn a strike or two. You should give this a try as I said it is such a simple method and yet was unbelievable to see it work perfectly.

 

[KingofMadCows]

Definitely try to make the awards as small as possible. Don't forget to pair it with "traditional" reinforcements like praise.

It would also be a good idea to get the kids to help you think up of achievements. If they are personally involved in creating the achievements that are later used to reinforce their own behavior, then they'll be able to motivate their own good behavior.

 

[Bobbity]

Damn, that was really interesting.

I'd imagine that the novelty of the system would eventually wear off, but only to a point. You'd still have more control over a class than you usually would, even after a large length of time.

It's always good to read about people trying something new, and I'm glad that this worked for you. Good work

 

[Telemachus]

gogogo!!! make school actually effective. well done man. i hope you can really start something. way to go.

 

[SenorToucan]

As a Year 9 student, I can tell you that while this would work in the short time, I'm almost certain a majority would start to completely disregard the achievements. e.g. Start saying the rewards are stupid/childish and not worth it.

 

[Phototoxin]

Gamicification = knowing where the goalposts are and communicating expectations and objectives.

They tried that when I was in primary school to do with brushing out teeth. It didn't work. Once you realise that after getting to level 2 that there's 78 more levels to get through it becomes a chore not a fun activity. I'd just rather brush my teeth for the reasons my mum told me rather than some chart.
Some MMOs can be described as 'jobs' (griding for lootz, xps, gear whatever), they're addictive not engaging

Gamerfication might work on dumb kids. It wont work on kids who don't care or kids who are smart enough to see the 'childisness' of it, let alone the pointlessnees. If you're not in it for its own reward why are you in it?
Besides the satisfaction level of things like a bookface game is so low that it leads people coming back for more - hence it is addicitve, not motiviational.

 

[Secret world leader (shhh)]

Haha, your name is Mr.Person!

On a more serious note, that sounds awesome, this film might just make waves in the education community.

Title suggestion: What videogames taught the teacher. (on second thoughts that's probably pretty stupid but fuck it.)

 

[theravensclaw]

my grade 6 and 7 teacher, an awesome man named Mr Geeves, used similar methods to engage us kids before there was a massive game influx (1994) but by creating an interactive learning environment he had the entire class including the troubled kids doing work set for grade 9s! He made things accessible by making them engaging and making the same boring shit others were failing into fun!

 

[Mordwyl]

The schools I've been in when little did this for years. Secondary in particular had each separate class tally a score based on performance and discipline, with the winners earning a trophy and a plaque for each student in that class.

I still have mine after all these years.

 

[Zetsubou^-^]

This is a good study, and I'm glad your first try was so positive. Certainly testing this more would yield different results, but even a short study like this can give gamification a look from teachers, full-time or not. While some teachers have tried mixing in play to enhance learning, its telling that the first time you used it gave results even beyond what you were expecting.

The only thing I would warn against is trying to take the game too far or making it too strict/complex. Since you are a sub, you don't have much (if any) initial authority. Push too hard and it can work in the opposite direction. Since you know this, you have a good opportunity to find a curve to set the bar on.

 

[Chase Yojimbo]

Absolutely brilliant. I would give you a hug for helping with changing the world but I'm here, and your over there. This is a break through that teachers may have been looking for all this time *though it kind of has been under their noses the entire time*. You should really try to implement and refine this technique into the Ciriculum. I can see how this can be used for Disciplinary Excersises in public schools as well... bravo.

My only worry however is that this Teaching Style may not actually be used *professionally* until the Baby Boomers and older X Generation teachers retire, and are replaced by the Echo Boomer teachers. or at least thats my theory...

 

[EtherBunny]

I would recommend "TED" if you would like to share your ideas. You reminded me of this speaker on the site http://www.ted.com/speakers/sugata_mitra.html and if you combined his ideas for teaching and used gamification as guidance to steer students towards the goal of whatever you want them to learn.

 

[TacticalAssassin1]

If only more teachers did this.

 

[Nouw]

Good work OP, a documentary you say?
This site should help fund it. [http://www.kickstarter.com/] I know I'd chuck in a few dollars to help a pro-gaming project. The first step down the road of hard work, at the end is success. I'll be expecting more updates

Nice work. But it is going to take a looooong time for you to make a documentary. More variables, unpredictable factors, and everything else.

I agree but perhaps saying it in a different more sensitive manner; I'd be pretty bummed if I put a lot of effort into something and someone bluntly said "Good job, but it's going to take more than that."

Kinda like telling a 5 year old who wants to be a scientist while he's reading some basic kids books, "reading books is good but it's going to take much more than that to become a scientist. You have to study hard, spend most of your time researching etc"

 

[blackguard89]

True it may take some time to fully implement, but that's a start right there.I am quite impressed by the results.
Also I think Extra Credits, has alot of potential, i fell that I grow to know my favourite medium even more after I watch each episode.

 

[rapidoud]

Teacher can't spell gamification.

Great TAFE to go to.

 

[AngloDoom]

Fantastic to see this all in action. Please, if you can get this documented for other struggling teachers then do so: this would do wonders for classes.

I'm not going to say this is a miracle-cure, since I've been to quite a few schools in quite a few areas when I was young and you can certainly tell that some simply don't have the desire to learn thanks to their parents. With any luck, though, work like this might help towards discipline at home too. I know I'll be trying it out if I ever get myself a little spud to raise.