A4 This summer has jolted my true teacher back to life thru #tlap#xplap and #HiveSummit. I’m waiting for her book (and yours) in the mail but @TaraMartinEDU makes me want to “cannonball”... the first two intrigue me most #TeacherMyth
Q4 Which blog will you write in the next month?
-What are you trying that you've never done before?
-What are you reading that is pushing your thinking?
-You cannot do it all. Where do you need to give yourself a little grace?
-What refills you throughout the year?
#TeacherMyth
Hello #XPLAP community... I am Michael Matera... Author of #XPLAP and 6th Grade teacher and presentor.
My favorite team has always been our olympic teams. I love watching olympics and think it is a beautiful display of sportsmanship and skill.
Hello All...Jordan Billings, 7th grade social studies and my favorite team is below! Looking forward to getting good ideas to form team since I am hoping to do that this week #xplap
Hey #xplap! Louie from Philly checking in for as long as I can. Exhausted this week, but always looking to be filled by this amazing group! Hoping @MrsLedford6Eng@debbiejholman and others are joining as well!
GO YANKEESSSS!!!!
Hey #XPLAP, I’m Dwight from the beautiful Adirondacks & I’m all about all the @Cuse teams, especially basketball & football... I even wound up on the back of a truck with my fandom!
✨Hey #XPLAP Crew! I'm Kimberly, and I teach 7th grade ELA. My favorite team is always my students! Love building a team and community of learners each year!✨
Hi everyone, I'm Patrick, 4th grade teacher from Oshkosh, WI. Hard to pick a favorite team. It depends on the season. Brewers, Bucks, Badgers, Packers are all favorites. #xplap
Hey everyone. 1st week of school is kicking my butt but glad to get a chat in tonight. Scott from Michigan. Middle school dean. Favorite team: Detroit Tigers. #xplap
Justin Oswald from KS, middle school science, and the #xplap#Hivesummit like a pirate and @dbc_inc are my favorite PLN teams! @circleusd375 and my colleagues are my favorite teaching team. Go T-Bolts!
Most definitely. Caught a great concert tonight... spent some time collaborating with a couple teachers I'll be team teaching with & building IKEA today... it was a great day. Hope you're well too! #xplap
Rich Anderson, 9th grade Global History in North Syracuse. My favorite team? Well it has to be #tlap and all it’s members. Sports wise I like the Spurs. Gotta love Popovich! #XPLAP
A1: I take this one very seriously... I allow my guilds to create team names, flags, mottos so that they can gel as teams. Additionally, I make sure students have time to learn about all the assest they have together. It is fun to build that inventory of skills #XPLAP
A1. Only starting this gamification journey next week, but hope to foster that team camaraderie through shared team experiences like breakouts or other in class experiences. #xplap
A1 So Much! Tomorrow we will be having a game day ice breaker but most of my class is centered around Guilds and collaboration. Here is an example of my central Battle Mechanic. #XPLAPhttps://t.co/tXcxp3KX7M
I am Nebraska Hamilton. I don't do sportball in general. HOWEVER, when I was little I used to tell Illinois people that I was a Packers fan just to be a contrarian. So, in case you're from Illinois; Go Packers! #xplap#notanicekid
A1: Lots of team building and relationship activities. Focusing on engaging Ss and getting the buy in early. As I walk through the halls, office, outside, anywhere Ss are, I’m saying hi, getting to know some extra things, anything to build trust and a foundation. #xplap
@mrmatera How would you respond to someone who says gamification pits teams against one another rather than building a community of learners as one? Someone in my PLN heard this this week. Would love to hear a response from the gamemaster himself.
:) #xplap
A1: Getting students working together, sometimes even against me in mini challenges works well. Helping them find commonalities among themselves also does wonders. Sure, they're all individuals, but there's also much they share. #xplap
We have team names that they've picked in the past (not sure if they will be this year or not yet), some team building actitivties, many of our challenges are based on teams. #xplap
A1 This year with #gamification@DCComics vs. @Marvel students already chose an allegiance and built bonds based on their favorite movies or characters. They then were able to chose a super power and share. Tomorrow they will develop affiliations for smaller groups #xplap
A1
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SHH! SECRET HANDSHAKES!
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My students created secret handshakes last year. Each day we opened class with a quick second to greet each other. It was so fun to see the big smiles and the bonds that formed from such a simple thing! #XPLAP
A1 Teams bond through working together and contributing to their identity. Guild crests, cooperative activities, facing challenges, communication, games, and supporting each other. Also, opportunities to help each other all enable bonding. #xplap
Love the use of the two worlds! I was debating of which to use to adapt, but could definitely envision a cameo by the DC Heroes in the Marvel Universe. #xplap
I am new to #XPLAP. In terms of teams, I see teams as communities and building community is essential to creating safe, respectful, caring communities. I use a lot of the TRIBES activities early in the year and through out to promote community.
A1 on #XPLAP In order to forge the bonds of teams in my classroom, I set teams up in different ways and rotate them in various ways throughout the year. #funteams
A1
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SHH! SECRET HANDSHAKES!
🤝✨🤝✨🤝✨🤝✨🤝
My students created secret handshakes last year. Each day we opened class with a quick second to greet each other. It was so fun to see the big smiles and the bonds that formed from such a simple thing! #XPLAP
A1: I haven't done full gamification...yet! But we work in teams for STEM challenges. We share our progress & reflect on @Flipgrid which allows all the teams to experience & be happy for all of our successes! & We can leave positive feedback for each other. 💚 #XPLAP
I was inspired to use this in my 5th grade morning meetings. Each week, we hope to add a new part to our secret handshake. We will see how it goes! #xplap
A1: I try and let them do as much together as they can to build a common experience and team spirit...boss battles are probably the biggest activity but I am hoping to expand this year by letting them create a background story and a history of thier guilds journey #xplap
It doesn't have to be a negative sense of competition. One of the things you'll often see in sports, even ones as brutal as UFC, you'll see respect and possibly a hug after a hard fought fight. Just because there's competition, doesn't mean there isn't mutual respect. #xplap
#XPLAP try to encourage them to work towards a goal...I used some ice breakers to build idea...we are on day 4 so a little play each period to keep team mind set
I agree with this. Collaboration and Competition are not mutually exclusive and respectful tension is positive.
There are also collaborative win-stake games like Pandemic whose mechanics can be used.
#XPLAP
A1 Class identity. Before finding #xplap I always did a interclass competition (#xplap is causing me to level up) and part of the bond was creating a class name and competing. Some great names like Crispy Bacon, Anderson’s Army, the Screaming Llamas
A2: As a history teacher I love building history into my game. I document each year so I have records and sustistics to share throughout the year with my studnets. I.E. You guys did well. Wow I am so impressed and you did it 12 seconds faster than last year. #XPLAP
Hey guys, in between questions here... I just published my class syllabus on my site. It is built like a Game Manual and actually makes a nice summary of my game.
#XPLAPhttps://t.co/DiIIbTLB0O
A2: Additionally, I love to talk about the histories of their houses... I.E. Aleria has won once in the past, let's make this year Aliera's year! Or Zemar won last year, do you think you guys can give them back to back wins? #XPLAP
✨Me too! It's definitely one of my favorite components of classroom #gamification. The trickle-down effect that good teams have is game-changing for learning! #XPLAP 🤜💥🤛
A2 I think that providing a narrative or even a simple storyline allows the classroom to feel "lived in". A sense of deeper scope that "I'm doing this for a grade".
#XPLAP
a2) hoping to get a wall of fame put together at some point. Would like to compete against previous winners in kahoot games, I show off previous side quest projects for examples. maybe challenge high scores once it stops changing so much each year. #xplap
A2: Having only just begun my teaching journey at my new school last year, and only really heading out into the waters of gamification toward the end of the year, I look forward to really crafting the legacy & story of GOLD this year. #xplap
A2 I included quite a few side quests where teams could craft their own story last year. That, along with building the overall story of the game helps them feel like a part of something. Hoping to incorporate something like the legacy wall @mrmatera did last year. #xplap
A2: I found that even the mini histories are also important. It was powerful to keep track of which guilds had the highest average for a week or a month. It allowed celebrations of teams that otherwise may not have the chance if only looking at the whole event. #XPLAP
Thank you! I am excited to learn more... #Cannonballin tonight without much water in the pool... Looking forward to filling the reservoir with knowledge from the book, videos and #XPLAP community! 💜💜
A2: The top performing Agents of SLUSH (Saranac Lake US History) will be enshrined on a plaque of some kind, yet to be determined, that will be displayed in my classroom. #xplap
A2 I talk about former house records and challenges overcome. Start my year by saying it is now your time to carry the torch of Aleria and see how you can leave your legacy in the Realm of Nobles. #xplap
A2: I will be adding a legacy wall in the back of my room once our time machine breaks! It will be a great transition to our new world and create an amazing sense of group strength and team unity. #xplap
All of this is what I am hoping to add this year...I set up my wall of legends and by having students chronicle what they accomplish I hope to add some discussion of historical source creation #xplap
Need to remember to do this. Really want to bring back some students from last year for a few challenges. Kind of an all star team to face current students! #xplap
A2 It helps teaching science, each year I use the same lab experiences yet change the variables from the previous year's Ss suggestions. It helps facilitate the scientific method while giving #studentchoice and voice and they also like to hear how last year's did #xplap
Q2: I made sure to pick something they have context for. That's why I chose them to make their own country with XP in stuff Ss recognize like "Literacy Rate" and "Development" of their countries! It's something they've heard about and will continue to learn about this year! xplap
A2 - trying to build this in by creating schoolwide groups by using the same team names in multiple classes - then I post how those teams are doing -and now you've got 5th graders from team water fist-bumping 2nd graders from team water #xplap
#XPLAP A2 I always emphasis that they belonged to their “team”...that they were connected and the teams together connected to something bigger. Then building in talk of legacies of teams, having space on my website that honor past winners, added a kind of legacy wall this year.
Boom. You are hitting it out of the park @PerkyScience tonight. Solid answer and so true. Teachers hunt the good and look for ways to use the data. #xplap
Heck yes! All Star team from last year to compete against an all star team from across the different periods of your current year. Definitely have a lot of buy-in from the current students. #xplap
A2
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YOU MUST FEEL THE
FORCE AROUND YOU!
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In my game last year, Ss created their own player's history 1st. After that, they formed teams & came up with the history/back-story together weaving in each player's existing strengths. #XPLAP
A3 When I let students pick their own partners they stand back to back. I then say, "Turn to your partner, look deep in their eyes and say goodbye. That is the one person you CANNOT work with. Sometimes I do it 3 times in a row #xplap
Q3. Don't do it often enough, but once in a while I'll have a draf-like set up where we will switch teammates mid-project, especially when I figure out that a couple of teams need particular skills or there is an over abundance of a skillset in one team. I get to decide. #XPLAP
A3 With this year's narrative the affiliation groups will eventually have to collide with each other to demonstrate leadership under different circumstances, superpowers will be exchanged, and other phenomena will change groups throughout the year #xplap
A3 I have a 'sudden betrayal' card that allows a player to switch teams during a battle. They then join that meta-guild for the rest of the semester.
#xplap
A3: I have a temptation that of expected would switch up the guilds! I also have a power floating around in my site now that will allow students to control guild selection. #xplap
A3: When thinking about grouping my classes, @mrmatera's #xplap book gave great ideas. The drafting procedure for the final quarter groups is mind blowing. It gets kids reflective about their strengths and gives the leaders opportunities to make decisions of consequence.
A3: I plan on switching teams up each unit through my year long game. The house points and individual leader boards will continue but teams will start fresh #XPLAP
Just want you all to know how thankful I am that you join in the #XPLAP chats each week. Thank you for all the awesomeness you produce here and in your classroom. Thank you!
random thought: what about a pass the sketchnote type of thing for a team banner? each person draws something on the banner then passes it on to the next person. #xplap
I truly love this community and I am super thankful to have you all as part of my #PLN You all rock my world each week here on #XPLAP Thank you so much!
A3
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SOLO SHUFFLE!
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It's going to be AHH-MAZING! Plan to surprise teams w/ challenges that will result in shaking up the teams. Watch out for a little Solo Shuffle action! #XPLAP
A3 When I let students pick their own partners they stand back to back. I then say, "Turn to your partner, look deep in their eyes and say goodbye. That is the one person you CANNOT work with. Sometimes I do it 3 times in a row #xplap
A3 Had a great moment last year where teams in a simulation were struggling with a desperate situation. They asked why they couldn't join together. When they realized that I had never prohibited that in the rules, we had lots of interesting alliances. #xplap
Just want you all to know how thankful I am that you join in the #XPLAP chats each week. Thank you for all the awesomeness you produce here and in your classroom. Thank you!
You cannot believe the groaning, but I know I've got them thinking when they go to choose a partner and DON'T choose their pal because they are thinking ahead. #xplap#planning
I have two big guilds in each class. They are battling each other. Ss can form smaller squads within their big guild. Its part of this storyline. easier to explain through the post.
#xplaphttps://t.co/CAByNSgmqt
A3 When I let students pick their own partners they stand back to back. I then say, "Turn to your partner, look deep in their eyes and say goodbye. That is the one person you CANNOT work with. Sometimes I do it 3 times in a row #xplap
A3: In the past I've allowed the crew of team ships to mutiny against their captain and elect a new captain. What I don't tell them is that they roll the dice to see if they succeed. If not they're stuck with an angry sometimes vengeful captain. #xplap
No experience, but great ideas! Thank you for sharing my first #edchat#XPLAP event with me. I was in over my head, but gain some additional insight into the world of #XPLAP I’m looking forward to learning and growing with you... Heaps of gratitude.
A3 This is the first time groups within my team will remain constant for a long time (although I always grouped by “pods”) but will do them by 5 weeks (I think 10 is long at first). Eventually work in a draft...although have to figure out how to do it with SEL in mind #xplap
Thanks #xplap! A wonderfully positive & insightful chat with everyone... see you next week! Have a great week whether it's with students already, or getting ready to welcome them for the next 10 months.
Mix it up for sure! My teams started to get stir crazy after a quarter last year. I hadn't even thought about switching them up though until I heard it in one of @mrmatera 's youtube videos, or maybe it was a #WellPlayed podcast. Looking forward to it this year though! #XPLAP
