Leveling Up: Motivating Students Through Gamification

Advertisement

Originally published in TEACH Magazine, November/December 2019 Issue

By Adam Stone

At Chapelwood Elementary in Indianapolis, Amanda Moore has turned to “gamification” to motivate her fourth-grade students.

Students use the Classcraft platform to build avatars, or virtual selves, and then earn points for completing lessons, helping classmates, or displaying other positive traits. “Whatever behaviour I want to see improve in class, I can reward points for that in the game,” Moore says. “Then they use the points to level-up their character, which means they get more armour and they look cooler.”

Grammatically, it’s an awful-sounding word: gamification, or as a verb, to “gamify” the classroom. Teachers, however, have found a powerful tool here. By leveraging technology and introducing video-game style interactions, some say they are able to grab kids’ attention and drive a higher level of enthusiasm.

At Michael E. Smith Middle School in South Hadley, MA, digital literacy and computer science teacher Lisa Manzi uses the Kahoot! platform to help turn learning into points-driven fun. “They love it; they beg to play,” she says. “If I were to do just a straight-up review of concepts they would groan, but when you play it as a game, the level of energy is high. It’s fun and loud. There is cheering.”

Subscribe to Keep Reading

🔑 You’re one step away from unlocking premium content.
Subscribe now for just $15.99/year and get full access!
If you’re already subscribed, please .

Adam Stone is a seasoned journalist with 20+ years’ experience. He covers education, technology, government, and the military, along with diverse other topics.

Education News

Nominations Open for Heroes of the Classroom Teacher Recognition Program

Nominations are accepted through August 3. Ten finalists will advance to a public vote for the chance to win the Grand Prize—valued at approximately $16,000 in cash and prizes.

New School Safety Trends Report Shows Training and Technology Are Saving Lives in U.S. Schools

CENTEGIX’s 2025 School Safety Trends Report reveals a national movement toward proactive, integrated school safety strategies, including campus mapping.

Girls Experienced Disproportionate Setbacks in STEM Skills Post-COVID

COVID-19 has been an unequal crisis, disrupting learning more deeply for some student groups than others.

For 8th Straight Year, 100% of Success Academy Grads Accepted to 4-Year Colleges

66% of students were accepted to selective institutions. Graduates were awarded more than $20 million in financial aid.

Join Our Newsletter

Get 10% off a subscription, monthly giveaways, and the latest updates—straight to your inbox!

Adam Stone
Adam Stone
Adam Stone is a seasoned journalist with 20+ years’ experience. He covers education, technology, government, and the military, along with diverse other topics.

Advertisement

Read More

The Power of Music and Melody: Using Songs to Engage Young Learners

By harnessing the power of music, teachers can create a lively and dynamic atmosphere that also improves concentration, focus, and retention.

Nominations Open for Heroes of the Classroom Teacher Recognition Program

Nominations are accepted through August 3. Ten finalists will advance to a public vote for the chance to win the Grand Prize—valued at approximately $16,000 in cash and prizes.

Real (and Really Funny) Math

I'm an author of math books, which may sound like a dry job, but that’s exactly why I do it. It’s my goal to show kids that math can be fun (and funny!)

New School Safety Trends Report Shows Training and Technology Are Saving Lives in U.S. Schools

CENTEGIX’s 2025 School Safety Trends Report reveals a national movement toward proactive, integrated school safety strategies, including campus mapping.

Exploring Indigenous Culture Through the Senses: A Transformative Learning Experience

At McKenzie Towne School in Alberta, students are learning through touch, scent, and sound with the Indigenous Sensory Box Project.

The Positive Impacts of Computer Science: What Every Teacher and Administrator Should Know

After working as both a teacher and an administrator, I know how much of a difference it can make when school leaders truly appreciate the power of computer science.
samsung galaxy a9s giá bao nhiều | casino slot play | slotted pipe | sparks slot review | 2 số cuối giải đặc biệt miền bắc | 888 live casino | vuejs slot class | play 88 fortunes slot | v slot | jinni lotto casino | slots garden no deposit bonus codes 2018 | casino lights png | spin palace casino review | game 777 slot club | sbobet asian handicap | mesin slot | thống kê giải đặc biệt hai số cuối | hack game slot | canberra casino hotel | bài casino | fresh casino review | giải rubik tầng 3 | cleopatra casino | nhập code omg 3q 2022 | dự đoán xổ số bình dương hôm nay | ignition casino mobile app | raam slot | lịch thi đấu vcs | book of ra deluxe slot | 777 casino games | cau dep 88 | nhận định everton vs burnley | xingtu là gì | casino bonus angebote | clip của diễn viên về nhà đi con | fifa mobile hàn quốc mới nhất | casino room casino | game lậu mobile việt hóa | casino malaysia | leovegas casino bonus | bongdanet livescore | bắn cá tam quốc online-nâng cấp | hack game slot | ebet casino | clip casino campuchia |