#edtech207 chats will cover topics around educational technology in pK to HE environments. Maine moderators will highlight issues that are relevant and timely for enhancing education through the lens of edtech.
Hi #EdTech207! Erin Morrell, hs English teacher at Oxford Hills High School in South Paris! My favorite game of all time has got to be Super Mario World! #SNESforlife
A1: To me, gamification will always make me want to quote Mary Poppins. "In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun." I think one essential requirement for success is being able to discover that fun in whatever task you're doing. #EdTech207
A2: I work with PSTs and adding elements of collaboration AND competition (whether it be competition with others or with self) really amp the engagement #edtech207
A2: I've found that the further out from "relevant to my life" the material is for students, the more gamification can be helpful. Super old content, like The Odyssey, can use a modern boost sometimes! #EdTech207
A little late to the chat but I’m Michael Glynn and I teach 5th grade ELA at Sebasticook Middle School in Newport. Favorite game has to be Luigi’s Mansion on GameCube. #EdTech207
Today I used it in a game where the team that got to 1,000 first won. A little hard to explain but they roll the dice and make a decision for ex. 6 - 6, 60, or 600 but could not go over 1,000. They were so into it! Got it from Georgia units in math. #EdTech207
A3: One thing that can really help kids reach out and interact is competition. My 9th graders get incredibly competitive and intense when we play Quizlet Live! Students who wouldn't otherwise talk to each other find themselves collaborating. It's great! #EdTech207
Hi Michael! That's hilarious! My husband's name is also Michael and that's his favorite game of all time! I'm a Pikmin person, myself, though. GameCube was so awesome! #EdTech207
A2: I think any situation when I could use games would increase student engagement. Gaming is so popular with my 10/11 years olds. I need to do some research on how to incorporate gaming into an ELA classroom. Any ideas?!? #EdTech207
A3: answering a ? with a question... I struggle with the tension between extrinsic and intrinsic motivators in the classroom when using games as a way to engage the whole class community. Talking about student motivators... thoughts? #edtech207
A4: One possible drawback is giving the appearance that you're not accomplishing anything substantive. The thing I'd recommend doing is sharing as much about your game and/or class as you can! Get your ideas out there so people can see the value in them! #EdTech207
I feel you. I think using collaborative activities more often than competitive ones may help, like #breakoutedu. My kids love Quizlet Live, but when someone gets one wrong they freak out (which is entertaining to watch, but not fun for the kid who made the mistake.) #EdTech207
So true! I've taught Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson for a number of years, and that's one that doesn't lend itself well to gamification, either. Sensitive topics require sensitive treatment, for sure! #EdTech207
A4: Sometimes I do see Ss so engaged when a teacher tells them #GameTime is over, they are reluctant stop 🚫 Like signs of early #GameAddiction#EdTech207
I've discovered there is a delicate balance - we play games but not so often that they don't appreciate them. NOISE can be a factor. They can get overly enthusiastic! #EdTech207
Wow - thought provoking thread. Does gamification then dictate the "type" of content? That is, if content is "gamified' will students perceive the importance differently? #edtech207
Oh my goodness, yes! We have some rooms with extremely thin walls, so noise always has to be a consideration. I hate to feel like I'm squashing the enthusiasm, though! #EdTech207
I think they perceive the treatment of the topic differently. If I treat it lightly, they will, too. There aren't too many things I do with ninth graders that are overly sensitive, thankfully. #EdTech207
A5: I'm running a civilization simulation with the social studies teacher on my 9th gr team in a couple of weeks. I can't wait to try it out! Here's a link to the rules! #EdTech207https://t.co/5u0QumsIbQ
I think cards and dice have endless possibilities for k- 8 Ss. They can be tailored to fit so many concepts in math. And they are easy and cheap. #EdTech207
A5: @quizlet#QuizletLive is awesome 4 getting quiet Ss who prefer to work solo to talk It forces Ss to work as a team since each player needs to see teammates' screens for all answers #EdTech207
Q5 #edtech207 I taught a theme of “adulting,” and I used Classcraft’s daily random events to generate real-world things that adults might have to deal with. Kids who were randomly selected had to figure out how to react. Car accident? New car? Repair? Bus?
I don't know if it really counts as gamifying, but using Hyperdocs to do webquests can be a really fun way to have students build their own content knowledge. #EdTech207
In reply to
@johannaprince, @GetKahoot, @Socrative, @quizizz
Aww, thanks! This is the first time we're doing it, and it's going to be combined with History for two-period blocks. It's exciting and TERRIFYING!! #EdTech207
A6: Competition and risk taking often create barriers for some of the students I work with. Encouraging and building a community of trust is an essential first step. #edtech207
A6: Ss are often self conscious when it comes to playing games in hs. To combat this, I act like a COMPLETE DORK whenever possible. I get childishly enthusiastic whenever I'm excited about something, and I call Ss out for scoffing. #EdTech207#modelingbehaviors
A6 some kids worry that they will not do very well. I prefer cooperative games or those that don’t broadcast who did poorly. Some deliberately try for lowest score, then, to look like that was their goal. #EdTech207
Great question. I have a boy who shuts down when he's not in the lead. He does well if he has extra support from me or a helper in the room. I always remind the Ss you win when you learn, support each other, and get along. It works sometimes! #EdTech207
Oh, how true this is! And it extends beyond games in class, too. I have quite a few Ss who don't want to take any sort of risks if there is even a remote chance of looking stupid. It's a challenge, for sure! #EdTech207
A7: See my answer for Q5! I've seen some awesome team-wide collaboration happening via gamification at my school. I feel like games give us a great platform for blending together different content areas. It's an opportunity we can't afford to skip over! #EdTech207
A7: I recently upgraded my @GetKahoot acct I see where Ts at the same school can share #kahoots & do more w/school reports I'm excited to try it but I'm the only teacher @ my school w/the premium acct #EdTech207
This is great! When I've done this, my students needed clear parameters for games that they're creating on their own, though, because if the possibilities are too limitless, they shut down. #EdTech207
A9: Sometimes I think there is a misconception that gamification does not equal learning. Education beyond the classroom becomes a priority for community engagement. #edtech207
A8: We can involve the community in things like scavenger hunts and mock interviews, and by sharing pictures and videos of what's going on in our classrooms. I want my Ss to understand how the different areas of their lives are intertwined. #EdTech207
A8: We can involve the community in things like scavenger hunts and mock interviews, and by sharing pictures and videos of what's going on in our classrooms. I want my Ss to understand how the different areas of their lives are intertwined. #EdTech207
