GAMIFY

YOUR

CLASS

bit.ly/GamifyConnect2018

JOCELYN KERVIN

Digital Literacy Resource Teacher

York Region District School Board

jocelyn.kervin@gmail.com

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@jkervs

SHAILAH DAMJI

Digital Literacy Resource Teacher

York Region District School Board

shailah.damji@yrdsb.ca

@ShailahDamji

Let’s Play a Game!

Experiential Introductions

• Using the multi-image side of your card, choose one image that represents or symbolizes an INTEREST of yours.

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• Find someone with a matching image on their card. It does NOT have to be the image that you chose as your Interest Symbol. Discuss your INTEREST image.

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• Together join another partnership to form a group of FOUR.

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• With your new group, discuss your experience with board and/or video games.

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• With your original partner, move to form a new group of SIX!

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• Share ways that you have used games in your classes for learning. For each example you can think of, count ONE POINT for your group!

Canada Reloaded

The country as we know it has been rocked by devastation, following Musk’s botched time travel experiments!

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We will need to band together and reclaim as much of our Canadian history and culture as possible, to ensure our survival as a nation and to move forward into our new future.

YOUR CHALLENGES - CHOOSE ONE

Each Challenge is worth 10 XP. If you choose to work with a partner, you must share the XP!

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• How and why has the National anthem changed over time?

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• Give a synopsis of women’s suffrage in Canada.

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• Describe our Canadian flag history.

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• Is “Canada’s sport” hockey?

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• Who are some of our notable Canadian/Indigenous visual artists?

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• Who are some of our notable Canadian/Indigenous Musicians?

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• Is Tim Hortons part of Canadian identity?

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• Should the British Monarchy continue to be part of the Canadian government structure? Is the new generation of “royals” renewing our interest in and connection to the monarchy?

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• What is currently trending in Canadian news?

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• How are some ways we can support the TRC?

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• What would you consider to be Canadian foods and traditions? Defend your choices.

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• Canadian fauna: what animals are native to Canada, or have become part of our natural environment?

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• Show off some Canadian tourist attractions.

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• Choose a few Canadian inventions or technological advances. Explain how these have influenced the world around us.

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• What images go on Canadian currency? Why were these images chosen?

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• Who decides what images go in the Canadian passport?

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• Create a bumper sticker that represents Canada.

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• Research Canadian transportation history.

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• Any other self-designed Canadian Quest

Learning Intentions

Today we will…

• Participate in experiential learning that deepens understanding of gamification and game mechanics

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• Experiment with gamification activities that can enhance student agency and engagement

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• Explore ways to capitalize on the positive impact of games in learning and education

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• Learn to articulate the differences between gamification and game-based learning

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Success Criteria

Today we will…

• Develop gamified structures that support differentiated learning and assessment practices

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• Develop activities that support collaboration, creativity, communication and critical thinking

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• Develop activities that maximize student desire to engage in learning activities that mirror their personal interests and strengths

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• Be able to articulate the power of gamification to motivate students to engage in deeper learning connected to their curriculum

What IS Gamification?

• an immersive layer of fun, depth, and experiential learning that takes your curriculum standards further!

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• a learning strategy that encourages students to embrace Creativity, Critical Thinking, Collaboration, and Communication

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• the chance to apply the most motivational mechanics of games to non-game settings, like classrooms

Gamification is NOT...

• just playing games in class!

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• just adding badges or points to curriculum standards.

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• “just for boys” or “just for gamers.”

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• reliant on excessive technology tools.

Why Gamification in the Classroom?

CLASSROOM ADVENTURES

What can Gamification look like in Education?

The game experience

Board Games That Inspire

Questions to Consider…

• Is there a purpose, theme or storyline that drives the game? Is it collaborative or competitive?

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• Does the game provide equal opportunity for every player, does it offer continuous challenge?

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• What skills would this game require? (strategy, critical thinking, collaboration, communication… )

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• What are some of its motivating elements?

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• Would YOU want to play this game? Why or why not?

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PLAYER TYPES

There are FOUR basic Player Types in the game world. Can you plan for all four?

Take the test yourself! http://4you2learn.com/bartle/

Images Credit: Andrew Kozlowsky

SAPS

Status, Access, Power, Stuff

GAME MECHANICS

Building Your Gamified Class

Game Mechanics

Onboarding

• Opening activities that launch the game or bring players into your game world. Videos, breakout games, etc.

Theme, Setting, Action

• This is the beginning of gamification, and will set the tone for the entire game.

Characters & Guilds

• Characters drive the game. They are heroes, villains, factions, the people your students will become and care about. You can create individuals or groups.

XP, Levels, Leaderboards

• XP = Experience Points, which are earned for the completion of various activities throughout the game; Leaderboards show standings and Levels
• “Lifejackets” are crucial elements that allow students to make up points if they are at the bottom of a Leaderboard!

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More Game Mechanics

Quests

• These are the “missions” that enhance your curriculum. These can be optional, and should be connected to your curriculum.

Achievements

• An achievement is anything that is unlocked through gameplay, like badges or special items. The “path” idea works well here, and encourages playful planning.

Currency

• Game money or anything that can be accumulated to trade for items - gold, air miles, points, etc.

Boss Battles

• Review quizzes or activities that “attack” a monster!

BUILDING THE GAME

Let’s take some time and explore some of these amazing tools, that might inspire quests and activities that fit YOUR classroom!

THEME

The STORY upon which the entire game is built.

With your “Team,” generate as many THEME ideas as possible!

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Points will be awarded for unique themes!

SETTING & ACTION

The SPECIFICS and CONFLICT of the story upon which the entire game is built.

Credit: Heather Marss (@hmarss24)

Once you have chosen an overarching THEME, consider…

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What conflicts or problems will your students need to solve to move the game forward?

CHARACTERS

The imaginary roles that students take on in the game.

Dungeons & Dragons include some of the best-developed Characters out there! They all have special skills, abilities, and roles.

Who will your students BE?

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Will they all be the SAME characters, or will some have unique roles?

XP and LEADERBOARDS

XP = Experience Points Leaderboards = displays of levels and XP standings

This is the mechanic that can be most easily misused. It is best used in combination with other mechanics, like levels and power-ups.

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How can you build in activities that complement your curriculum and award XP? How could leaders help those lower on the Leaderboard?

Credit: Heather Marss (@hmarss24)

LEVELS

Represents where a player or team stands in the game.

How will your students move UP the Leaderboard?

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What could you call your Levels to make them engaging AND reflect your Theme and curriculum?

GUILDS

Teams, class groups, factions…

How could you build

your teams?

Teacher choice or student?

Combinations of player types should be considered.

QUESTS

The activities in which students can engage, that earn points or privileges, and enhance their understanding of your curriculum.

This is one of the most fun mechanics to build!

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What Quests or Missions could your student embark upon in your game?

Credit: Tisha Richmond (@tishrich)

Credit: Jocelyn Kervin (@jkervs)

ACHIEVEMENTS

Anything that is unlocked or earned through gameplay.

Credit: Alice Keeler (@alicekeeler)

“Achievements can give students a sense of agency and accomplishment.”

Michael Matera, Explore Like a Pirate

CURRENCY

Money or Gold or Battle Points or other currency items earned throughout the game.

BOSS BATTLES

Review games that “attack” a monster of some sort!

HOSTILE TAKEOVER!!

Oh no! The U.S. has noticed our situation and is about to invade! They want to ANNEX what’s left of our Canadian citizenry. We could build a WALL… or fight back to preserve our unique Canadian history and culture!

THE MAGA MONSTER HP 60

Battle Line 75

BP Bonus

Below -1

Above +1

10 Above +2

40 Above +4

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Boss Battle Rules

Total your BP

• 0 - 4 yrs = 5 BP
• 5 - 9 yrs = 10 BP
• 10+ yrs = 15 BP
• each ITEM = 15 BP

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After each correct question, roll your die to determine how much damage you can do to the invading US Army for each correct question. Each correct question is also worth 2 XP.

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If you get a question wrong, you will lose a Health Point.

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If a teammate “dies,” they are stranded in a boat on Lake Ontario. They can “radio in” an answer, but cannot return until after the Boss is defeated.

ITEMS can be played at any time (once only)!

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THE MAGA MONSTER HP 60

Battle Line 75

BP Bonus

Below -1

Above +1

10 Above +2

40 Above +4

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THE MAGA MONSTER

Battle Line 75

BP Bonus

Below -1

Above +1

10 Above +2

40 Above +4

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HP 60

Continue the Adventure...

Wait! Don’t go yet! We’ve got PRIZES!

And we REALLY want to know if you had a GREAT time!

Feedback Form

THANK YOU!

jocelyn.kervin@gmail.com

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@jkervs

shailah.damji@yrdsb.ca

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@ShailahDamji

bit.ly/GamifyConnect2018