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

[random213]

First off I have got to say kudos to you for trying something. Too many times have I had a sub that sat there doing nothing and then put in a complaint with our teacher.

Second and I don't know how in depth you plan on going with this documentary and if you have thought about funding. If you have thought about seeking funding you might want to check out http://www.kickstarter.com/ to allow people to get involved.

Once again just got to say amazing job and with half my family being teachers I will definitely be sharing thread.

 

[teknoarcanist]

Hey. Brian. You know that "Waiting For Superman" movie?

Spoiler

You might be superman.

Also second the recommendation for kickstarter.

 

[jboking]

snip

While this system is great, and I've seen things similar(maybe not quite as blunt with the achievement thing)used in middle school classrooms, I foresee some issues with this becoming a constant strategy. It will eventually hit to the point that the students are just working to the reward, and in a high school setting, that can be a real issue as soon as you forget about something you'd simply expect them to do that you don't give an achievement for. A system that I have seen work great for longterm High School teachers that is similar is a reward system that builds up to a free day. Things like, "for each day that no one is absent the class gets 500g in Achievement Points," or "for each correct answer to a question the class gets 20g" and then set the final goal much higher and possibly make multiple choices for the goal.

As for the documentary: You can do that if you like, but make sure it's with a high school class. Gamification systems are already well known to work in middle and elementary schools. Of course, by teachers that really put in the effort, it is done in some high school classes.

It's honestly nothing new, but it is very fun. Enjoy your time with gamification!

 

[Chiefwakka]

That's really really cool!
Any way we could help?

Any feedback you guys could give would be awesome. To keep the topic alive, I'm thinking I will split it up into multiple video segments and update weekly, giving my different findings and what not.

Wow. That is incredible. My only suggestion is to vary the rewards. Candy is great, but it's part of a growing health problem and some may be concerned about that. A worry of mine is that it can't last forever (added on to the candy problem). Do you have any ideas that might work on a long-term basis. Thirdly and finally: do you mind if I print out a copy of your personal studies? It might be a useful suggestion for my own class that tends to be unnecessarily rowdy and disruptive (though they don't respond terribly well to incentives, I've found), and it might help the class progress through lessons more quickly.

It's one thing to pass a test, but simply getting a 95 on a test is meaningless if the student simply crammed the info in his head the night before and forgets half of it the next day. By encouraging students to engage you teach them things that go beyond the material. You teach a student to be self-motivated when you get him to do homework that's fun and engaging. You teach initiative when you let students choose their own topics for a research paper rather than forcing them to do what they will see some state test.

In this documentary I will delve into both the means and ends of teaching. I think it important to concerned with how we get there as well as the destination and hopefully, what I find, will lend credence to both.

Talking about this one with my english teacher. I have decided to learn in class as much as I can and study when I don't understand something, but never cram. It is harmful to the learning process. I am actually working on a general outline of a system of governance that (theoretically) works better than pre-existing ones. Education is central to its function and curbing cramming has become a bit of a problem. If your study works in the long-term, natural compulsion may be a solution.

Tomorrow I'm going to try to get a usergroup put together and perhaps from here I can provide the hard numbers and raw data. My own edification and good grades (for my project) are only a part of motivation for doing this..if at least 1 person can use what I find to better a student's life, then hell every second was worth it.

 

[A Weary Exile]

That is why you'll administrators constantly harping at teachers to just "teach the test". Simply get the students to answer this said question with this said answer so the school can receive money and so you can keep your jobs. The "No Child Left Behind Act" is a good recent example of this. So you'll have teachers forgoing creative methods of teaching and instead regurgitate repetitive platitudes, endless glossaries, math formulas, and meaningless dates so that when the time comes, and they are asked to regurgitate this themselves, they can do so in the moment.

Thank you! I feel like I was cheated out of a great learning experience in high school because of this exact problem, teachers don't want you to learn they just want you to memorize bits of information so you can fill in the answers like a good little monkey. My senior year of high school was a complete waste of time thanks to this idiotic teaching method.

Anything that can be done to eliminate this problem in public schools is a step in the right direction.

 

[Chiefwakka]

First off I have got to say kudos to you for trying something. Too many times have I had a sub that sat there doing nothing and then put in a complaint with our teacher.

Second and I don't know how in depth you plan on going with this documentary and if you have thought about funding. If you have thought about seeking funding you might want to check out http://www.kickstarter.com/ to allow people to get involved.

Once again just got to say amazing job and with half my family being teachers I will definitely be sharing thread.

That's the second time someone has referenced kickstarter...going to have to give that a read as well, thanks

 

[TheDarkestDerp]

This is both a good thing to see and a rather sad one to see. I am glad for your success, but at the same time I'm rather depressed by this pandering.

When I was in school, my teachers achieved the same results without having to stoop to giving us 'treats' for behaving in the classroom as we had been expected to since infancy. We were not on the intellectual level of lab animals. Sure, we would still fuck up and carry on, I haven't forgotten what it was like, butwe were told what behaviour was expected, and if it wasn't seen, we were punished, no 'goodies' were needed to keep us from playing with our toys, which it needs to be admitted, this is what is being done. Ipods, iphones, all these are toys, highly sophisticated maybe, but still toys, and not for the institution of learning.

Again, I am glad for your success, but this is very saddening as well.

 

[beefpelican]

As a substitute teacher I have to overcome certain obstacles to get a class motivated.

I'm currently studying to be a teacher, and I've started student teacher rotations. I can definitely confirm that temporary teachers have to work for every scrap of respect they can get. Good work finding a way to manage a class. My one question is whether it would work on a longer time period. I feel like students get wise to plots very quickly.

 

[Chiefwakka]

snip

While this system is great, and I've seen things similar(maybe not quite as blunt with the achievement thing)used in middle school classrooms, I foresee some issues with this becoming a constant strategy. It will eventually hit to the point that the students are just working to the reward, and in a high school setting, that can be a real issue as soon as you forget about something you'd simply expect them to do that you don't give an achievement for. A system that I have seen work great for longterm High School teachers that is similar is a reward system that builds up to a free day. Things like, "for each day that no one is absent the class gets 500g in Achievement Points," or "for each correct answer to a question the class gets 20g" and then set the final goal much higher and possibly make multiple choices for the goal.

As for the documentary: You can do that if you like, but make sure it's with a high school class. Gamification systems are already well known to work in middle and elementary schools. Of course, by teachers that really put in the effort, it is done in some high school classes.

It's honestly nothing new, but it is very fun. Enjoy your time with gamification!

Thanks man, I've already got some rough ideas that I'm going to get tempered out like a Dwarf blacksmith on crack

And yeah, I think High School is going to be my preferred setting for this in the long run. Partly because I've built up a good bit of repoire with this school as a football coach and regular sub.

 

[KingofMadCows]

There are a few problems with your method, some of which are out of your control since you're a substitute teacher.

1. The effects may be short term. If you want the procedure to have a permanent effect, you'll have to stretch the ratio of reinforcement. At first, achievement awards are given every day, then every other day, then every week, and so on.

2. You may be negatively impacting pre-existing contingencies. Some of the students may already be reinforced intrinsically for some of their good behavior. You're changing the contingency of reinforcement and it can damage the reinforcement the students get intrinsically.

3. Use of gamification may aversely affect your behavior. Remember that reinforcement is not just one way. You're reinforcing the kids' good behavior by giving out achievements but the kids are also reinforcing your achievements giving behavior. There is always the potential that the kids will begin to negatively reinforce you for giving out achievements. Be wary of that. Don't let the kids take control of your achievement giving behavior. The other problem is that use of gamification may decrease your use of other methods of teaching. Remember, there are a lot of other effective ways of teaching that don't require giving out achievements.

4. One way you can improve the method is to use things from popular games. There's a reason why just about every teacher shows The Simpsons "Treehouse of Horror" version of "The Raven" whenever they teach Edgar Allan Poe. If you make a good association between what you're teaching and a game that they like to play then when they play that game, then it will remind them of the lesson you taught them.

 

[airwolfe591]

Great Job man, but to add onto it from one of my experiences years ago back in middle school. A sub for, I believe it was either math or english, let's go with math. She would bring in a nerf football, get everybody into a circle, moving desks out of the way and we'd throw it around. The person who threw it, would ask a math (or insert subject here) related question, like 3*24 or something. Then go on to throw it and it'd go like that. My memory's a little foggy so I don't remember specifics. Just my experience with 'gamification' in school.

 

[Chiefwakka]

This is both a good thing to see and a rather sad one to see. I am glad for your success, but at the same time I'm rather depressed by this pandering.

When I was in school, my teachers achieved the same results without having to stoop to giving us 'treats' for behaving in the classroom as we had been expected to since infancy. We were not on the intellectual level of lab animals. Sure, we would still fuck up and carry on, I haven't forgotten what it was like, butwe were told what behaviour was expected, and if it wasn't seen, we were punished, no 'goodies' were needed to keep us from playing with our toys, which it needs to be admitted, this is what is being done. Ipods, iphones, all these are toys, highly sophisticated maybe, but still toys, and not for the institution of learning.

Again, I am glad for your success, but this is very saddening as well.

Yup and after reading all this awesome input I've come to the conclusion that instant rewards should only be a part of the Gamification experience. There's so much more that can be offered through the power of games than simply getting a treat. I hope, that as I tackle the endless possibilities I can find ways to encourage motivation without simply dangling a carrot on a stick.

 

[SilentCom]

This is awesome, I wish I had subs in high school who used gamification... Of course getting candy is better than merely getting achievements. You could also keep score with the achievements sort of like gamerscore. This will make kids want to show up for school, especially if you make rewards requiring a certain amount of "student (gamer) score". The 3 kids with the highest score could get a special prize at the end of the year. This would have to be done by teachers and not subs though.

 

[Drake_Dercon]

Tomorrow I'm going to try to get a usergroup put together and perhaps from here I can provide the hard numbers and raw data. My own edification and good grades (for my project) are only a part of motivation for doing this..if at least 1 person can use what I find to better a student's life, then hell every second was worth it.

Thank you. Because of you, I may survive until the end of the year. If it is adopted, I'll keep you posted on the results, if you'd like.

 

[Chiefwakka]

As a substitute teacher I have to overcome certain obstacles to get a class motivated.

I'm currently studying to be a teacher, and I've started student teacher rotations. I can definitely confirm that temporary teachers have to work for every scrap of respect they can get. Good work finding a way to manage a class. My one question is whether it would work on a longer time period. I feel like students get wise to plots very quickly.

Indeed they do, they are pretty clever indeed. But we can stay a step ahead of those lil rascals if we keep on our toes. Keep putting the effort into what you do and you will constantly open up new doorways before they can figure out how to lockpick the ones you've already shown.

 

[Silent Biohazard Solid]

Very interesting. I should definitely implement something like that.

But damn, students these days actually need a designated time to check their handheld devices and text people during class? What the hell is the world coming to? Fuck society.

 

[jboking]

Thanks man, I've already got some rough ideas that I'm going to get tempered out like a Dwarf blacksmith on crack

And yeah, I think High School is going to be my preferred setting for this in the long run. Partly because I've built up a good bit of repoire with this school as a football coach and regular sub.

That's good, as you'll have to get the rights and permission to film in the school and permission from each parent to film the kids. It's quite the task.

Also, a side question: as a substitute, did you ever try Jigsaw teaching?

 

[Labyrinth]

I can tell you now, this would not work in say, in an elementary grade level.

I'm curious as to why you think this is the case. With the proliferation of gaming into younger audiences and the accessability of things like iPhones, DS consoles etc. I see no reason that elementary education couldn't use similar impetus. Perhaps instead of things like lolly and chocolate rewards using a combination of levelling systems and achievement systems, similar but more explicitly organised than the cliche gold star method. It would need to be reshaped and the language around it changed, but I think it could still work.

Of course, I've never studied education, so I have a relatively layman perspective.

My mother's a university lecturer in chemistry and I've directed her towards the Extra Credits video, and to the guy who offered free consultation to educators. I think it could help her with workshops she's trialing in which the effort is to get students to interract with the material and each other. She has groups of three studens within a workshop set up so that one has done the senior highschool course, one has done a bridging course, and one has done neither. (To intergect a bit of nightmare fuel, 60% of her students have not done the highschool chemistry and only 30% of that 60 have done bridging) She's found that it takes a while for the students to engage with material and there are some who will still bludge off. I think in this situation, and in the situation of online assessments and discussions, gamification can be very helpful.

Edit: I just wanted to add that I'm thrilled you've posted this and I was very interested to read it. I look forward to any serial video, though you will have to be careful when it comes to getting filming permission within a classroom. Might even want to talk to The Escapist about a possible article or video lot too. I can't speak for the site but I think they'd be interested.

 

[Chiefwakka]

There are a few problems with your method, some of which are out of your control since you're a substitute teacher.

1. The effects may be short term. If you want the procedure to have a permanent effect, you'll have to stretch the ratio of reinforcement. At first, achievement awards are given every day, then every other day, then every week, and so on.

The pace of such rewards would have to change and I think longer term goals would be a great way to implement rewards.

2. You may be negatively impacting pre-existing contingencies. Some of the students may already be reinforced intrinsically for some of their good behavior. You're changing the contingency of reinforcement and it can damage the reinforcement the students get intrinsically.

Very good point. I do one advantage in that the classes I'm doing this with are with students who do know my name and they are with teachers whom I've associated with for several years. I will have to be careful in how strongly I use this in a random classroom of kid I do not know.

3. Use of gamification may aversely affect your behavior. Remember that reinforcement is not just one way. You're reinforcing the kids' good behavior by giving out achievements but the kids are also reinforcing your achievements giving behavior. There is always the potential that the kids will begin to negatively reinforce you for giving out achievements. Be wary of that. Don't let the kids take control of your achievement giving behavior. The other problem is that use of gamification may decrease your use of other methods of teaching. Remember, there are a lot of other effective ways of teaching that don't require giving out achievements.

The more I read these posts the more I realize I have to be careful with achievements. I think they can serve a purpose, but if used as the quick and easy path to behavior management than become an agent of evil I shall (not sure why star wars is popping into my head right now lol).

I can't throw out the book on teaching for the sake of achievements. I think it's possible incorporate traditional methods with gamification (like a ranking system to be used as a curriculum-based measurement).

4. One way you can improve the method is to use things from popular games. There's a reason why just about every teacher shows The Simpsons "Treehouse of Horror" version of "The Raven" whenever they teach Edgar Allan Poe. If you make a good association between what you're teaching and a game that they like to play then when they play that game, then it will remind them of the lesson you taught them.

Yup, I'll have to find ways to create a connection between the game and the learning material.

 

[Chiefwakka]

Great Job man, but to add onto it from one of my experiences years ago back in middle school. A sub for, I believe it was either math or english, let's go with math. She would bring in a nerf football, get everybody into a circle, moving desks out of the way and we'd throw it around. The person who threw it, would ask a math (or insert subject here) related question, like 3*24 or something. Then go on to throw it and it'd go like that. My memory's a little foggy so I don't remember specifics. Just my experience with 'gamification' in school.

I have done this before and it can be rather fun and it does get a class engaged. Trying to remember the class, I think it was U.S. History, it worked well.