When you gamify instruction, more of the brain is engaged during activities. In addition, more dopamine is released, which makes learning fun and encourages students to retain the information and want to come back to it.

While competition can be fun, and I feel it’s important for students to learn to win and to lose graciously, I prefer most competitions to be either team-based, versus me, or trying to beat their own previous score/time.

I definitely love to integrate technology when gamifying lessons, but it can be as simple as having students time themself completing math facts and trying to beat their own time.

Click the links below to learn more about some of my favorite ways to gamify instruction!

Many elements of game-based learning in my classroom are covered under WBT and problem-based learning. These strategies all blend seamlessly together. While gamification doesn’t happen only through technology, here are some tools that my classes and I have enjoyed in the past:

Prodigy is a an amazing research-based program for math practice, and they now have an ELA program as well! Time on Prodigy, where students are learning math has always been a favorite reward of student in my class.