This week in class we talked about Gamification. Coincidentally we also just presented our Math Mini Lesson in which gamified a final math review lesson by turning it into a game of Jeopardy. I’m going to try and embed the code down below, and you should hopefully be able to play it yourself!

Gamification in education refers to the integration of game design elements, and principles into educational activities and learning environments to engage students and enhance motivation. It involves applying elements commonly found in games, such as points, badges, levels, challenges, and rewards, to educational contexts to make learning more interactive, and enjoyable. Gamification aims to harness the inherent appeal of games to captivate students’ interest, stimulate their curiosity, and encourage active participation in learning tasks. By incorporating elements of competition, achievement, and progression, gamification can foster a sense of autonomy, mastery, and purpose, motivating students to persist in their learning efforts and achieve academic goals. Down below I’ve linked some educational resources that use gamification!

Resources

One resource I specifically wanted to talk about is GeoGuessr! I started playing GeoGuessr when I was in middle school and it sparked a profound love for geography and world cultures. GeoGuessr is an online geography game that drops players into random locations around the world using Google Street View. While primarily for entertainment, it offers significant educational benefits. It helps students develop geographical knowledge by exposing them to diverse landscapes and cultures. The game fosters critical thinking skills as students analyze visual cues to deduce their location. It also enhances spatial awareness and map-reading skills. GeoGuessr promotes cultural understanding and empathy by showcasing different cultural landscapes. It challenges students to solve geographical puzzles, building problem-solving abilities. Its interactive and competitive nature engages students, making geography lessons more enjoyable and memorable. Additionally, GeoGuessr can be used for collaborative learning, promoting teamwork and communication skills. Its adaptability allows educators to customize gameplay to suit curriculum objectives. GeoGuessr provides a fun and immersive way to teach geography while developing essential skills for students. I will attach more resources down below, just click on the hyperlinked image to get to the websites!