Gamification in education: 5 tips to successfully gamify your classroom

Not to be mistaken withEsports, gamification in education is all aboutapplying gaming dynamicsin the classroom to improve learning and enhance students’ skills and performance.

In fact, it helps instilcrucial skillssuch as collaboration, critical thinking and creative problem-solving. Plus, it fostersengagement, increasesmotivationandinterestin certain subjects and offers immediatefeedbackto pupils.

Curious to learn more? Read on!

The neuroscience behind gamification in education

What makes gamification so effective? The answer is inneuroscience. Several experts have studied gaming systems applied to different fields – from learning to business training.

As a result, researchers have proven that brain-wise, gamification increases a feeling of motivation and enjoyment throughdopamine releaseand hippocampus stimulation.

Firstly,playing keeps the brain healthyby training memory and attention and preventing cognitive decline. Secondly,it relies on emotions, which makes learning retention more effective. Finally, gamification’sstorytelling-dynamichelps students process information without boring them with lists of notions.

Learn how to gamify your classroom

Now that you know a little more about how gamification works, let’s put it into practice.Here are some basic strategies to help you out.

1. Set up a point system and start assigning points for completing tasks

If integrated with class activities,point systemsallow students to visualise their progress and encourage their motivation!

2. Promote healthy competition with leaderboards

Creating competition among peers is a great way to improve performance. What’s more, you cancreate more than one leaderboardbased on different achievements.

By doing so, you will promote various types of skills and make thingsmore inclusivefor all students.

3. Assign badges & awards

Reward-based systems are excellent to show your class that you value effort and hard work. For instance, you can create acriterion based on pointsand assign badges. Or even term-end awards.

4. Create a mission with an objective

Unleash your creativity! Use apps likeGoogle Slidesand create a quest where students need to unlock objectives to move forward. For example, you can create across-curricular missionthat includes Maths, reading and science, and put a badge on the line!

5. Go full boss mode

As classic video games taught us, every level ends with aboss battle. So, are you ready to take up the mantle at the end of point 4’s quest? Prepare a list of morechallenging questionsand ask your students to answer with atime limit. You can even split your pupils into teams and let them cooperate to win.