Jul 06
The idea of badges and achievements in gaming is a problem for teachers who have abolished extrinsic motivators in their classrooms. In 3DGL there is a Badges section, an Achievements section and an Awards section. I’m really conflicted by the awards section because it’s more like rewards than badges and achievements in my eyes. I …
Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2013/07/06/rewards-and-gaming/
Jul 03
With regards to the 8 characteristics of Game-Based Learning (GBL) [CORRECTION: this should be Quest-Based Learning (QBL) as GBL is something different entirely] mentioned in 3DGL: Choice (Autonomy) Failure Progress Bars Multiple long & short aims Reward ALL successful efforts (XP points) Prompt, meaningful feedback Elements of uncertainty/awards Socialization schools need to embrace these, probably …
Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2013/07/03/characteristics-of-gbl/
Jan 25
Midterm is upon us and I reminded my students of how things are different at this time in an ungraded classroom. I hear them talking about what grades they are getting in their other classes because at midterm teachers prepare progress reports for families to see how their child is doing halfway through the trimester. …
Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2013/01/25/student-survey-time/
Jan 24
I came across this post on SmartBlog on Education written by Paul Cancellieri (@mrscienceteach) on grading. Paul makes another great case not only for NOT using grades as carrots and sticks but also for doing away with grades (my take away from reading his post). Here’s his post: Grades as Measurements
Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2013/01/24/more-reasons-to-go-gradeless/
Jan 22
 Coming up on three years ago, after 19 years of teaching, I began to question grading. I wrote a blog post titled, Do Grades Help or Hinder Learning? I knew that grading, the ways I had tried it until then, was not working. Grades were not motivating all of my students, it was the focus …
Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2013/01/22/why-go-gradeless/
Jan 04
I’ve written about some of the great training I’ve had on Assessment for Learning (AfL) also known as formative assessment. I’ve gotten some great resources but frankly there is way too much. It’s quite overwhelming to keep up with my everyday work of guiding students along the learning experiences that I’m preparing for them AND …
Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2013/01/04/mass-production-feedback/
Oct 04
Homework is a tough one. We all have our opinions about it. Reading Alfie Kohn’s work on the subject reveals that the research can’t really agree on whether homework is valuable or not for young kids. For my son, who is 15, homework is not pleasant but with prodding he’ll do it. We make sure …
Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2012/10/04/the-homework-dilemma/
Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2012/07/16/gamifying-my-classes/
This section includes my learning and attempts at gamification AND game-based learning (GBL). I’ve been a gamer since first playing pong at my neighbor’s house when I was seven and I’ve always wondered how to bring that level of engagement, fun, and learning into my classroom. So this is where I’ll be placing links of …
Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/gamification/
Jun 11
This past Thursday Nicholas Provenzano hosted a Twitter chat at #NerdyChat on the topic of Gamification (see transcript here). Gamification is the idea of using the best of video gaming in the classroom. Why? Watch a kid play a video game. Video games hook the player and motivate the player to persevere through failure and …
Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2012/06/11/alternate-reality-game/
I'm a Curipod Ambassador! :)
I've presented at NCCE
2016, 2017, 2019, 2022,
2023 and 2024!
I presented at WSTA 2015!
