Gamification 101[4]: Organizing the Modules, Part 2

Approximate Reading Time: < 1 minuteThis is Part 4 in my continuing saga of my current iteration of a gamified course. Last time I ended with a high-level course map. Maybe you can see why many of these “modules” actually need to be interleaved. So that … Continue reading

Gamification 101[3]: Organizing the Modules

Approximate Reading Time: 2 minutesThis is Part 3 in my continuing saga of my current iteration of a gamified course. I had decided to modularize the course so I could offer my students pre-tests. This is the kind of course where many students will already know … Continue reading

Gamification 101[2]: Reflecting on Previous Versions

Approximate Reading Time: < 1 minuteThis is Part 2 in my continuing saga of my current iteration of a gamified course. Last time I mentioned one of the changes I implemented last year was to offer small bonuses for getting things in by a particular … Continue reading

Gamification 101[1]: Preface to the Start of Term with a Gamified Course

Approximate Reading Time: 2 minutesI’m just about to start term with a gamified course. I’ve been developing this design for a number of years now and thought I’d provide a bit of a journal on what we I am doing and how it’s going. My … Continue reading

Tech or No Tech in the Classroom? The debate Continues.

Approximate Reading Time: 3 minutesCame across this: Why I’m Asking You Not to Use Laptops – Lingua Franca – Blogs – The Chronicle of Higher Education. I suspect it is because we are starting a new school year that this topic is popping up a … Continue reading

Enough with the Testing Already

Approximate Reading Time: 2 minutesI came across this article: “Sorry, I’m Not Taking This Test” | Mother Jones. We don’t seem to be quite as maniacal about it in Canada, but standardized testing has spread like an epidemic in the US. Without the proper perspective … Continue reading

Can Badges and Leaderboards make Low-Income Students Participate more in Campus life?

Approximate Reading Time: 2 minutesAn article about how a “gamified” interface to campus life is supposed to help low-income students (can you tell I’m skeptical?). Here’s what they do: Give out points and badges for doing stuff. Reward competing against their fellow students to earn … Continue reading

Can serious games encourage persistent behaviors?

Approximate Reading Time: 2 minutesStudies on the use of reinforcement have shown that unpredictable reinforcement schedules lead to behavior changes that persist the longest.  Since games are driven by cycles of player actions and corresponding feedback, is it possible to provide unpredictable reinforcement in … Continue reading