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Do you want to increase student engagement, foster collaboration, and make learning more fun? Gamification could be the key. By incorporating game mechanics—like challenges, rewards, and competition—into your courses, you can motivate students to participate more actively and retain information longer.

Join Us for the Gamified Learning Workshop

If you’re curious about how to bring game-based strategies into your teaching, don’t miss this upcoming workshop hosted by EdTech in collaboration with the Gamification Special Interest Group.

Gamified Learning: A New Approach to Student Engagement
Tuesday, April 15
10:00 am – 11:00 am via Zoom
RSVP

Presenters:

Kristen Treglia, Senior Instructional Technologist
Chris Vicari, Educational Technologist for Communication & Media Studies
Jordan Burkland, Instructional Designer for Gabelli Learn

During this interactive session, you’ll explore practical ways to integrate gamification into your courses. From using digital badges and leaderboards to designing collaborative challenges, you’ll leave with actionable strategies to energize your classroom. Plus, you’ll gain insights into tools and platforms that make gamification easy to implement.

What Is Gamification?

Gamification is the application of game-like elements in non-game contexts—like education. When used effectively, it taps into students’ intrinsic motivation by making learning more dynamic and rewarding.

Common game mechanics used in education include:

Points and Badges: Reward participation and achievement with visible markers of progress.
Leaderboards: Foster friendly competition to encourage students to strive for excellence.
Progress Tracking: Help students visualize their advancement through levels or milestones.
Challenges and Quests: Create meaningful tasks with objectives and rewards to promote problem-solving and critical thinking.

By applying these elements, you can create a more interactive and immersive learning experience that motivates students to stay engaged and achieve their goals.

Gamification in Action: Real-World Examples

In higher education, gamification is being used in creative and impactful ways:

Quests for Mastery: Some faculty transform their syllabi into role-playing adventures, where students earn experience points (XP) and level up by completing assignments.
Badges for Skills: Digital badges are awarded for mastering specific skills, providing students with tangible recognition for their achievements.
Gamified Assessments: Instructors use interactive quizzes and trivia games to reinforce concepts and assess understanding in a low-stakes, fun way.
Escape Room Activities: Some courses use digital escape rooms as collaborative problem-solving exercises that promote teamwork and creativity.

Tips for Getting Started with Gamification

If you’re ready to dip your toes into gamified learning, here are some practical tips:

Start Small: Introduce a single game element, like a leaderboard or badge system, before building out a more comprehensive game-based course design.
Make Rewards Meaningful: Incentivize participation with relevant rewards, such as extra credit, privileges, or public recognition.
Use Existing Tools: Platforms like Kahoot make it easy to gamify your lessons without extensive technical know-how.
Track Student Feedback: Gamification should enhance learning, not distract from it. Regularly ask students for feedback to ensure the game mechanics are effective and motivating.

Join the Gamification Special Interest Group

If you’re excited about gamified learning, consider joining the Gamification Special Interest Group (SIG) at Fordham. This group explores innovative gamification strategies, shares successes, and offers ongoing support for faculty interested in enhancing their courses with game-based techniques.

The group meets twice a month on Wednesdays at 2:30 pm. Visit the IT Calendar to RSVP and join the conversation!

Ready to Gamify Your Classroom?

Gamification is more than just fun—it’s a powerful tool for boosting student motivation, enhancing learning outcomes, and creating a more dynamic classroom experience. Whether you’re new to gamified learning or looking to refine your existing strategies, this workshop is your chance to gain practical tips and connect with fellow educators exploring innovative teaching methods.

Looking for assistance in integrating educational technology into your classroom? Visit the EdTech website for resources or reach out to our team!

EdTech Consultation Calendar | edtech@fordham.edu | www.fordham.edu/edtech