This topic was a difficult one for me this week and I am not sure that I have a complete understanding of the difference between games, gaming and gamification! I guess I never really knew that there was such a difference and I'm not so sure I get it yet. Of course in kindergarten games are a means of learning......the kids play learning games using manipulatives, pictures, magnetic letters and so on. Anytime we can use the word "game" with an activity for the children to complete, we do because they are excited about it and become engaged with the activity. We use apps on the tablets for a reinforcement olearning. I think I would consider that a game. We use Study Dog and ABC Mouse and I don't know whether to consider these a form of "gaming" or not. Study Dog is a web-delivered reading program and progresses at a child's rate because it adapts to how they learn. It is rigorous but the kids consider it a game and challenging because they want to move on to the next level. Study Dog shows the children's progress by moving them to the next activity (lesson) and rewards them with "coins" and after completing a lesson (getting all the coins) they move on to the next lesson. ABC Mouse moves the children along on their learning path and they get tickets as rewards to buy things. Would these be considered gamification? Sort of lost with the gamification part of it......on a blog that I read, Class Dojo was considered gamification. I have used class dojo in the past as a behavior managment tool. ABCya.com is a website that provides free educational games for grades K-5. I have used this website before but it does not track the students learning or progress in the free version. I would think that it does if you pay the $39.99/month subscription fee.
My blog is part of my google account with my district and the Technology Specialist at school reached out to me to offer some help with understanding gamification and how it can be used in kindergarten. More to come on that!!
After reading more, watching videos and talking to other teachers, I feel I have a bit of a better understanding of gamification. It seems it's more like a behavior type of system but using points (or whatever teacher decides on) for students to earn that leads to an award of some sort. At least that is one way I see gamification being used. I have used something similar in my room.....marbles! If the class is in task, I scoop a hand full of marbles to fill up and jar and on the jar there are levels to reach in order to earn something. Not technology related but sort of, I think like gamification.
Hi Susan,
ReplyDeleteEven after doing this assignment I am still confused on gaming and gamification. I thought them both to mean using a game or game-like situation for students to experience the content. In my opinion similar to labs - using games in which students can score points while experiencing the content helps them gain a better understanding. I do think that gamification would be difficult to use in certain circumstances with early grade levels.
Do you think that the academic ability of students early on as opposed to later in their educational careers should have an impact on the amount of gamification or games we implement to help teach or reiterate concepts of a lesson?
Hi Susan,
ReplyDeleteEven after doing this assignment I am still confused on gaming and gamification. I thought them both to mean using a game or game-like situation for students to experience the content. In my opinion similar to labs - using games in which students can score points while experiencing the content helps them gain a better understanding. I do think that gamification would be difficult to use in certain circumstances with early grade levels.
Do you think that the academic ability of students early on as opposed to later in their educational careers should have an impact on the amount of gamification or games we implement to help teach or reiterate concepts of a lesson?
In answering your question, I think that the amount of games or apps that we use in school no matter what grade is truly dependent on the type of learner they are. Just like with all that we already do, technology is just another tool for us to use to reach all students.
DeleteI think that one important piece to the gaming puzzle is a programmable way to track class information and measure growth. I don't like the idea of students playing games just to play. I always look for programs where students levels can be differentiated, they work at their own pace, their work is saved, and can be accessed by me to track progress. I am much more willing to invest in the program if it has those features.
ReplyDeleteLisa,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about being able to track a student's progress. That feature and ways to differentiate are important features.