This document discusses two classroom management techniques that incorporate gamification elements:
1) A meaningful gamification class that uses a leveling system, choice of assignments, narrative layer, unknown future outcomes, avatars, leaderboards, and unknown rewards.
2) An information reporting class that uses a leveling system, choice of assignments, narrative layer, known future outcomes, and mystery achievements.
The document cautions that gamification elements can confuse non-gamers and recommends creating support systems for weaker students and weighing the overhead of non-traditional grading against the benefits.
Exploring Gamification Techniques for Classroom Management
1. Exploring Gamification Techniques
for Classroom Management
Scott Nicholson
Associate Professor
Syracuse University School of
Information Studies
http://becauseplaymatters.com
2. “Good morning. Welcome to the first
class of the semester. Everyone in this
class is going to receive an F.”
11. Master Plan
• First 6 Weeks
– BLAP gamification
– Gamification by Design
• The Big Decision
– Keep Going or Start Over?
• Meaningful Gamification
– Reality is Broken
21. Major components
• Reflection and plans for the future
(Autonomy)
• Rat Packs (Relatedness)
• The Ratskeller (Competency)
• The Escape into The Big Dark Place
22. Information Reporting and
Presentation
• Required activities = C
• Optional activities -> A or B
• Re-do opportunities
• Student-created Narrative
• Good class performance = achievement ring
23. Level-based Grading System
• Very confusing to some non-gamers
• Advising requests at halfway point
• Difficult to conceptualize current grade
• Vote at half-way point, 75% wanted to change
• Starting at 0 = superficial change from traditional
systems
26. Conclusions
• Game layers can confuse non-gamers
• Create systems that support weaker students
– Learning agreements still allow choice
– Group support
– Failure-safe space
• Student-created narratives
• Weigh overhead vs. benefits
– Non-traditional grading systems
– Achievements, Badges, Extras
– Redo time, both in-class and grading