Gamification: The basics

Gamification can mean...

• using games in the classroom.

• using narratives in the classroom.

• using points in the classroom.

• using ranks in the classroom.

Answer explanation

Remember that gamification is NOT using games in the classroom! That's game-based learning. Gamification means using GAME elements in the classroom.

Draw a kid PLAYING

Answer explanation

Do you know what type of play did you represent with your drawing?

Was it social contingency play? Pretend play? Physical activity play? Or maybe object play?

Gamification and game-based learning are the same.

• Yes!

• No!

• Maybe...?

Answer explanation

Gamification and game-based learning are NOT the same!! Do you remember why?

Game-based learning is the use of games in the classroom, while gamification consists of using game elements, such as challenges, rankings, badges, etc.

Can you tell me what type of player are you? Why?

Answer explanation

You can enjoy more or less competition (and viceversa). Knowing what type of player our children are can help us better group them and extract the maximum language learning potential of a game!

Why can "levels" be something interesting to implement in our classroom?

• Because it can visually help students track their learning.

• Because it can help motivate students by foreseeing the future challenges.

• Because it can be paired with a narrative and give meaning to the learning process.

• Because it can be paired with points and rewards, also promoting motivation.

Answer explanation

This was kind of a tricky questions, all of them are correct! Levels, as same as other game elements, are iteresting because of multiple reasons. To stress some of them:

* They can serve as visual trackers of owns learning progress.

* They can motivate you to keep going through the next levels.

* They can be paired up with points and awards or narratives and give the whole learning process a motivating meaning.