The current education landscape is facing numerous challenges, and from the perspective of educators, it’s important to understand what these challenges are and how to address them. One of the most significant challenges is the need to capture students’ attention and enhance their motivation in a digitally driven world. Therefore, one essential aspect to achieve this attention and motivation is by introducing gamification in the classroom.

In this week’s post, we will explore how to successfully apply gamification in the classroom and learn about some success stories from schools and teachers who are implementing it.

What is gamification and what benefits does it offer in the classroom?

You’ve probably heard of the concept of gamification. It involves applying and utilizing game design elements in non-gaming contexts, such as educational environments. It’s important to emphasize the significance of the user, or in this case, the students. The goal is to design activities that enhance their motivation and interest.

So, what benefits does the use of gamification offer in the classroom?

• Increased student motivation and engagement: By turning teaching and learning into an enjoyable process, students develop a greater interest in the subject matter. This enhances their motivation to overcome obstacles and solve problems.
• Promotion of teamwork: Many gamified activities involve collaborative components, fostering communication, teamwork, and mutual support within a group. This improves social skills that are essential not only in the educational setting but also in various other domains.
• Skill development: Through gamification, students develop crucial skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, teamwork, and more. Moreover, these skills aren’t limited to academic contexts; they can also be transferred to other areas of their lives.
• Active learning: Gamification engages students more actively in their own learning, making them participants in the teaching process rather than passive recipients. Furthermore, gamification promotes autonomy and improves decision-making skills, contributing to a more active and practical learning experience.

Step 1. Preliminary steps to implement gamification in the classroom

For a successful experience when introducing gamification in the classroom, it’s essential to follow a few preliminary steps:

• Clear goal definition: Consider what objectives aligned with your subject’s curriculum you want to achieve with the gamified activity or activities you’re planning. Clear objectives make it easier to create content aligned with the curriculum.

• Analysis of students and their educational needs: Knowing your students well, their interests and needs is crucial to designing effective gamified experiences. This helps you design activities that are interesting and motivating for them. Additionally, it’s important to consider any special needs they may have to ensure inclusive activities.

• Selection of game mechanics: You need a clear understanding of the game mechanics you’ll employ in the gamified activity you’re preparing. There are many options available: missions, levels, points, rewards, etc. Make sure the game mechanics are suitable for your students’ age and level.

Step 2. Designing the gamification experience

Once you have clear objectives, student needs and selected game mechanics, it’s time to design the gamification experience. Follow these steps:

• Choosing a base topic: Select an inspiring and motivating base topic for your activity. This theme will serve as the foundation for designing the entire gamification experience.
• Creating challenges: After establishing the base topic, create progressive challenges that increase in difficulty as students progress.
• Reward system: Introduce motivating elements that recognize achievements. These rewards should align with the previously defined objectives and hold value for the students. Examples include certificates, prizes, and recognitions.
• Use of technology and digital tools: Leverage the benefits of technology for a successful gamification implementation in the classroom. You can use mobile apps, websites, online games, interactive resources, and more. For instance, with the quizzes in Additio App, you can prepare activities that foster gamification in the classroom.

Step 3. Implementing the Gamification Experience in the Classroom

Once you’ve designed the experience, it’s time to implement it in the classroom. Follow these steps for a successful implementation:

• Introducing the activity to students: Explain the prepared activity to students, outlining the objectives and evaluation methods. Create positive expectations and foster a motivating environment.
• Conducting the gamified activity: Ensure that students follow the instructions and rules properly, and watch their acceptance level of the activity. This will help you determine if these types of activities are appealing for recurring use.
• Monitoring progress: Keep track of students’ progress and provide feedback as necessary. You can use the assessment gradebook in Additio App to record all related aspects of this activity.

Success stories of gamification implementation in the classroom

Now that you know the steps to successfully implement gamification activities in the classroom, let’s explore some examples of how educational institutions and teachers use gamification to motivate students.

1. The Case of INS Sarrià de Ter

INS Sarrià de Ter is a school located in Sarrià de Ter, which embraces gamification as the school year comes to an end. To apply the knowledge acquired during the year, they engage in an end-of-year project in which gamification takes the lead.

For a week, students set aside their textbooks and embark on a project (each year on a different topic) that utilizes gamified techniques to successfully tackle the project.

This highly motivating and engaging activity allows students to conclude the school year on a high note, energizing them for the summer.

2. Gamification in the welcome classroom

Clara Torrabadella, a Catalan language teacher, shares how she uses gamification to motivate students in the welcome classroom of her school.

Clara is a strong advocate of digital tools and gamified activities to increase student motivation. She particularly favors interactive quiz tools, as they encourage higher student participation and involvement.

Furthermore, an activity that both she and her students love is the game of “Who’s Who,” which allows her to work on descriptive vocabulary with her students. This has generated a strong interest among her students, helping them learn to provide accurate descriptions in Catalan.

How do you use gamification in the classroom?

We’d love to hear how you implement gamification in the classroom or any advice you’d offer to other teachers looking to explore it. Share your insights with us on our social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube.

Bye!