Hi! Tisha HS Culinary Tr & Lead ....and soon to be Tech Instructional Coach in Medford, OR! Super excited for #iste18 and to see my #xplap peeps!
Hey...did you know its' @mrmatera bday?! Find your best bday greeting gif!!
Jay from NE, Lots of adventures this summer... going to Minnesota, finishing and starting some books, kids having surgery, and going to the zoo tomorrow! #XPLAP
It’s adventure time with the #XPlap crew tonight! Happy birthday @mrmatera... I’m Dwight from the beautiful Adirondacks, and today my students began an adventure... the Quest for the Golden Skull! A year end review scavenger hunt, an auto 100 on the final is at stake!
Jason Howse from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada! No real adventures for me this summer, but I am sending my son to Japan, so I will experience his adventure vicariously! #xplap
Welcome everyone… I am Michael Matera, teacher, author of #XPLAP and dad to one amazing daughter… She made me a Rice Crispy pan for my B-day along with @abmoreno1981 I feel pretty lucky!
Evening #XPLAP. John from DC. Summer adventure plans include travel to someplace sunny, #SeriousPlay conference at @GeorgeMasonU, and revising my book manuscript.
Hi #XPLAP peeps!!! Carrie Baughcum. 6/7/8 Special Education teacher. My summer adventure is tons of time with my daughters and continue to stretch my creating! #XPLAP
Mike here, from NJ but teaching MS tech in Guadalajara, Mexico. Planning on exploring Colorado and the Badlands in a mini-van with my wife, 2 kids, 2 in-laws, and a tía from Cuba #xplap
My plans for adventure this summer include taking my first Master Class online (you know the video courses from pros) and Traveling for several PD sessions this summer. Can’t wait to share joy in the journey of learning with people all over the US. #XPLAP
✨ Hey #XPLAP Crew! I'm Kimberly from NE, and I teach 7th grade ELA. This summer I'm looking forward to diving into my ever growing stack of DBC books, traveling to Chicago for ISTE, and I'd like to take an "unplanned" trip, too!✨
First, a happy birthday to @mrmatera! Summer plans include learning adventure and outdoor adventure! I already feel rejuvenated just thinking about it :) Hope to join tonight's #xplap chat!
#XPLAP Joining tonight and like the idea of a 30 minute format. Michele, 8th grade ELA teacher in NY. Summer adventure begins after ISTE when I can have more time for and with my family
A1. This year, I've allowed for much more choice in assessments. Students always adventuring with topics they want to explore and toosl they want to use. #xplap
A1: Definitely some adventures this year including flexible seating. Ss just finished their digital citizenship PSAs. They were filming all over the school - that was an adventure for sure! #XPLAP
A1: Adventure is fun and exciting and don't we all want learning and the experiences in our classroom to be fun and exciting as well as intellectually stimulating?
#xplap
My summer adventures include teaching some awesome Tech Camps most of the summer, an epic trip to #ISTE2018 , and hopefully a mini-family vacation somewhere in there. #xplap
A1: one way I help with a sense of adventure is being open with Ss about trying new things (units/lessons/etc) with an unknown outcome. When they ask Qs about it I can honestly say "I don't know. Let's see what happens or you find out and then you tell me the answer" #xplap
A1 every Monday morning is an adventure, I don’t know where we’re going until I start interacting with the students (yes I have a plan, but the key element is the students and their buy-in) #xplap
A1: Hoping to include more adventure in my class next year. Hoping to build in more choice. Trying to reprogram my teacher brain to allow for adventure and wonder. High hopes! #xplap
A1: Started with a Westward Expansion digital breakout today... a few students made it into the Shire & tumbled down the rabbit hole to begin their Quest for the Golden Skull #XPlaphttps://t.co/oZg2GiTPOS
A1: We just did a neat Choose your own adventure activity in Math. It was a really fun idea, that I will be doing again. Blog incoming in the next few days. Most literal answer I could have to the question. #XPLAP
A1: I add a sense of adventure but using mystery in many of my quests and my “Adventure Paths” these are optional risky challenges that students can attempt. They love them. #XPLAP
I've read that on restaurant menus they limit choices to 7 items per section. Same reason - too much options leads to paralysis. Too few feels constricting. #XPLAP
I'm learning that chaos does not need to be loud and messy. The "chaos" can just be students in all different places with their learning. Not sure I would thrive in messy loud environment. lol #xplap
A1. Love imbuing lessons with a self-guided sense of adventure! I wrote a pedagogy I call #QRBreakIN as a “REVERSE” Escape Room for a gamified twist on old-school centers. Small teams solving puzzles to collect clues in a race against the clock. https://t.co/hnLAO8poQe#XPLAP
Awesome @dwsteven thanks for sharing… Loving your ideas that you are coming up with here at the end. You inspire us all to keep up our best work! #XPLAP
A1. I have been using @breakoutEDU with my students and have created a few of my own. Really want students to create games to consolidate learning #nextstep#XPLAP
Q1: I love using suspense and drawing out elements of a game only showing a little at a time. Creates an adventure and wonderful moments and memories. #XPLAP
My adventure this summer, finding a new job, after 10 years at my school, my last day is this Friday. Scared to know what or where I will be in 90 days ... ready to walk the plank like a pirate #tlap#xplap
Hey! I want to know more about how your class went this semester since the Rock Star theme. Have you written anything about this? I'd love to know more. #xplap
A1: Adventuring is a daily occurance in my class. Today was adventure and a little bit of CRAZY as we are prepping for Sr Board Catering this week! #xplap
A1 No planned adventures. Just ones they found as they uncovered things about science. #XPLAP . Hoping to lrn from you all so I can plan it for next year.
I've read that on restaurant menus they limit choices to 7 items per section. Same reason - too much options leads to paralysis. Too few feels constricting. #XPLAP
✨A1: LET GO AND ENJOY THE RIDE! Sometimes just living in the moment brings the most adventure. It's okay to let go of the lesson plans, and just enjoy the ride...see where it takes you! #XPLAP✨
A1: Quests and Game boards are great ways to kick off the adventure of learning, to ignite a sense of wonder, curiosity, and mission to learn exciting things based on your content area. #xplap
A1: In my online writing class, every other story is an adventure! Ok, it’s kind of a Reading Rainbow adventure in your mind... but I think there is a lot to be said for choosing your own topic and exploring something you care about instead of always writing to a prompt. #xplap
A1. Love imbuing lessons with a self-guided sense of adventure! I wrote a pedagogy I call #QRBreakIN as a “REVERSE” Escape Room for a gamified twist on old-school centers. Small teams solving puzzles to collect clues in a race against the clock. https://t.co/hnLAO8poQe#XPLAP
A2: the game I am currently building has different pathways that lead to completely different challenges and items in the game. I am excited to see the consequences of these choices! #xplap
A1: Quests and Game boards are great ways to kick off the adventure of learning, to ignite a sense of wonder, curiosity, and mission to learn exciting things based on your content area. #xplap
A1. Love imbuing lessons with a self-guided sense of adventure! I wrote a pedagogy I call #QRBreakIN as a “REVERSE” Escape Room for a gamified twist on old-school centers. Small teams solving puzzles to collect clues in a race against the clock. https://t.co/hnLAO8poQe#XPLAP
A2: the game I am currently building has different pathways that lead to completely different challenges and items in the game. I am excited to see the consequences of these choices! #xplap
Quests have allowed me to structure my student lesson choices such that Ss document their progress and I can see and give feedback on the progress. I need to build further tho. #XPLAP
Great point! I've found that mixing up choices and repeating choices from one menu to the next helps students manage the choices. I have students that like to mix up their choices, and others that find a niche they like to stick with. #xplap
A2: Adventure quests and easter eggs are on my website and in my classroom. Some students need extra encouragement to go on them and some just go for it. The brain loves novelty! #xplap
A2 unknowns in the game are finding side-quests that change perspectives and help a team gather strengths they dididnt know they had, #silentwarriors#xplap
A2: Unknowns abound in history. It's at the core of our subject area. Unknown doesn't need to forever remain unknown... I encourage students to seek answers & report back. One thing with history though is we don't always have all the pieces, so must infer the unknown. #XPlap
A2:✨PICK A CARD, ANY CARD! I love the idea of having a set of unknown "bonus" cards containing elements of surprise, adventure, XP, challenges, penalty points, etc. #XPLAP ✨
There are lots of ways to do that with any content area. You can do anything from bingo to a forensic crime scene and students have to solve the case by completing different labs to uncover . . . #xplap
A1: Quests and Game boards are great ways to kick off the adventure of learning, to ignite a sense of wonder, curiosity, and mission to learn exciting things based on your content area. #xplap
A2: The unknown this year came from kids wrapping their minds around what they needed to do. It has been great, we finish tomorrow with the unvailing of our legacy board and a relay race to have our winners. I am so excited. #XPLAP
I've been trying it in my science classes. Still working on quests and fleshing out the game. @PerkyScience has been doing great stuff in science with gamification. #xplap
Q2: my classroom is a constant unknown. Change and surprise aren’t a surprise...the unknown is the response of my game to my students and their needs #XPLAP
A2) I use the element of "unknown" a lot in my class. From revealing quest stages gradually and not all at once, randomizers, or even hidden loot. Love the excitement this fosters. #xplap
A2: Adventure quests and easter eggs are on my website and in my classroom. Some students need extra encouragement to go on them and some just go for it. The brain loves novelty! #xplap
My kids love the mystery and the hidden secret society in my medieval unit. If they find it, they must not let anyone know. They have to turn in their sidequest slips in secret. It is awesome! #XPLAP
Q3: Starting now on #XPLAP… This will be tonights last question. But you are free to stick around after if you wish and discuss how awesome you all are! I know I think so!
Jennifer, I love the idea of wheels! I use Wheel Decide quite often! Love to see where it lands, and you can't argue with the wheel! We called in "The Wheel of Death"! LOL! Named by the students! #XPLAP
I didn't tell any students about the Golden Skull Quest, save a single student I saw over the weekend. He told other students, and they arrived to these flyers scattered about the middle school... No context... just mystery. #XPlap
Teachers need to let some things unravel naturally based on their students and real time - we cannot plan everything and new power ups or treasure can add intrigue and interest among Ss #xplap
A2: I created a series of challenges for students to complete to receive a tank for the game. They didn't know what the next task would be until they completed the previous one. It was fun to see the ones who stuck with it. #xplap
A3: Certain culinary missions can be completed as a team, and every day Ss are working in teams to create and collaborate. Love the bonds that are developed! #xplap
A3 Some of my quests are labs adapted into a quest. They must have lab partners of course! In one they must extract mithril ore from a mysterious muck. Mithril happens to be magnetic. #xplap
@breakoutEDU and #EscapeRooms are great for team work whereas many of my missions have Ss go individual paths. Boss Battles and scavenger hunts also great for team building #xplap
Thanks. This convo is too fast and I'm overwhelmed. #xplap Just need to find someone who is doing the basics so I can get started. I'll check out @PerkyScience
In reply to
@pentaclethra, @PerkyScience, @PerkyScience
I love finding those certain students to slip some information to, who I know will spread it around the other students like wild fire. Then, when other Ss bring it up with me I pretend like they're crazy and I don't know what they're talking about. #xplap
I'm mostly lurking tonight because I'm not YET gamifying my class, but I am going back to a school site next year and will hopefully get to do so, and I'm looking for ideas #XPLAP
Yes, you can start by modeling your own game or quest off of an actual game show or board game - use what you like and think what will intrigue your students #xplap
Mr. Roughton! I love your site and the CYOA assignments. I'm yet to use them in class as I didn't find them until late, but you blog posts, especially your disdain for TpT is refreshing! #xplap
Josh, happy to have you at #XPLAP tonight. It is a great community and filled with power packed educators. Keep coming back for more. Also check out https://t.co/9r1XK8i0qt for more ideas.
A2. Unknowns are (pardon the pun) AMAZEBALLS. With @ToysRUs going out of biz I picked up 25 off-brand @LEGO_Group Pokéballs SUPER CHEAP. Fill ‘em w/ random items / group roles / questions / etc. INFINITE uses. Coupled w/ dice, augmented reality & spinners. ALWAYS exciting! #XPLAP
Thanks so much for joining the #XPLAP Chat… Love seeing both new and old faces tonight. Please share your thoughts on the format! Should we stick with it? What do you think?
Jennifer my Ss LOVE Breakout EDU! During Parent Curriculum Night at the beginning of the year I made parents complete one so they could get a chance to experience what their kids would be doing and they LOVED it too! #XPLAP
I started by just gamifying one period for one month. Really helped me get a handle on how the dynamics worked. Many teachers start with one unit or smaller. Tweet any questions to #xplap
A3) I've changed up my boss battles recently to make them more collaborative and encourage peer support. No boss monster can be defeated by a single student. To be successful, everyone needs the help of their guild. #XPLAP
Q3: Starting now on #XPLAP… This will be tonights last question. But you are free to stick around after if you wish and discuss how awesome you all are! I know I think so!
It's a ceramic sculpture I came across in Homegoods/Marshals this weekend... my imagination took it from there and I needed to have it for class. #xplap
A3 - did a nice collaborative robotic design unit. Ss had to team up to build a winning sumo-bot. Fun watching them rely on each other's skills. #xplap
OMG!!! I love this idea… I will be using this one next year! Thanks for thinking about that one. I have the cards, done it myself, but didn’t think to put it out there for students. #XPLAP
I like the quick dip into #xplap and I can stay up and engage in the chat for the summer this might be a great concept but go deeper into ideas/topics when school is back in session
A3) There are many group/guild challenges in my class. Our final battle against the king required the guilds to come together, stay alive, and take him down! #XPLAP
First time joining the #xplap chat. Thanks for the inspiration everyone! I thought I would like the short format more than I did. I feel like there is so much more to learn from you all!
I am just starting out with gamification. Started with a one-hour teacher PD to get the hang of it and am now building one project. Gonna start there and go slow. Feel free to DM me for anything if you want! Newbies unite! :) #xplap
In reply to
@ratzelster, @pentaclethra, @PerkyScience
All that said...I did try the Story Cubes idea from YouTube. @mrmatera it was awesome and a gr8 end of the yr activity. Got way more ideas. #Xplap . But I had a hard time explaining it to my principal.
I had students do it last year in conjunction with a writing assignment, but they'd be a fun game element too! I loved doing it and it was fun to track the cards! Maybe you could add points for cards that travel the furthest by the end of the level or something! So Fun! #XPLAP
A3. Snake Oil! Like “Shark Tank” for sketchballs. PERFECT for any content. Student groups create a custom product tailor-made for a particular character (by mashing up two everyday household objects drawn from a hat). Must present pitch to class! https://t.co/uwx97g8tCO#XPLAP
Since my goal is to get more sleep during the school year and I live in EST I like the format. I can always read my tweetdeck tomorrow to catch up. #xplap
Problem is, they're caught up to where I've written the game to already! It's some good stuff though. Love when students get talking about class outside of class. #xplap
First time joining the #xplap chat. Thanks for the inspiration everyone! I thought I would like the short format more than I did. I feel like there is so much more to learn from you all!
It helps. Slow starts make a large difference. What works and what does not. And we certain do not all do it the same way. It is finding which elements work for you. #XPLAP
In reply to
@pentaclethra, @ratzelster, @PerkyScience
It's a ceramic sculpture I came across in Homegoods/Marshals this weekend... my imagination took it from there and I needed to have it for class. #xplap
Agreed. He just goes with all my crazy ideas for the most part. #XpLAP . hopefully he can come in and play with us so he gets it. End of the year was too crazy. #xplap
We all feel like that! You get used to it...this community is all kinds of awesome!! And you can reach out to any of them anytime! #BetterTogether#Xplap
The clearance section at those stores has absurd little items for dirt cheap. The skull was $5 and it was definitely worth it for the buzz it's created among students who just last week were talking how they shouldn't be in school anymore (with a month of school left) #xplap
For sure... I love twitter chats because of the firehose... but I know some past colleagues who steered clear because of how overwhelming they can be. Worth it! #xplap
Missed out on #XPLAP... Here is Wakelet, which is super cool by the way. https://t.co/sESxwhZ0j0 Catch up on what you missed. Subscribe to never miss out!
