Gamification

            What is gamification? Gamification is the application of game playing. As an educator I look forward to finding new ways to encourage my students to learn. Gamification is a great way to help get students involved and engaged in their learning experiences.

            There are definitely things to consider when using gamification in the classroom. One of my biggest concerns is if the game the student is trying to play is developmentally appropriate for their age. Many educational games can be designed for older students or for younger students, which do not really help, rather they cause problems. Another concern for me is that the students will use other games or get distracted while playing some of the games and will not actually benefit from it.

            One of my favorite examples of gamification is Osmo. There are many different games that are available for purchase. For Osmo the teacher would have to have an iPad in the classroom. The Osmo kit comes with a stand for the iPad and a mirror for on the camera of the iPad. Once the iPad is set up, the teacher will also have to download the correct application (each game on Osmo has a different app.) My personal favorite game through Osmo is the Osmo Words game. Below is a video of the game and how it is played.

            I believe that Gamification can be a useful resource in the classroom if used appropriately and if the games are for the correct age level. I think gamification is definitely a great resource for learning and engaging students in the classroom.