Gamification in TEFL

Content

A. Defining “gamifiacation”
B. Learning platforms with gamification
C. Using gamification in rural areas with no internet and PCs
D. Language games
 Gamification
“… the intentional use of game design elements (e.g. rewards, leader boards,
badges, levels, etc.) in non-gamic context e.g. online academic courses”

Deterding et al. (2011)

This definition is based on game-based learning concept and cognitive theory.

- Storytelling
- Progression
- Freedom to fail
- Rapid feedback
Scot and Neustaedter (2012)
 Game-Based Learning
“The intentional use of digital and non-digital games or simulations for the
purpose of fulfilling one or more specific learning objectives.”
Dominguez et al. (2013)

Gamification and game-based learning have been used interchangeably in

prior research.
Callaghan et al. (2013)
 Gamification Elements
• giving a story or theme
• providing clear goals
• offering a challenge
• using levels, allocating points, showing progress
• providing feedback
• giving rewards
• providing badges for achievements, showing game leaders

Cugelman (2013)
 Benefits of Gamification

• Builds motivation
• High learner engagement
• Enhances learning environment
• Better retention (sticky learning)
• Develops students’ critical thinking skills
• Practice and proficiency gain
• Provides formative assessment and instant feedback
Game-Based Learning
Platforms
 Class Dojo
o Primary school LMS
o Attendance
o Grades
o Grading good and bad habits
o Various tools
o Contact with parents
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJk-xCEQG4o (Eng)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_svxPfcAh8 (Rus)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6WnBTN2pW8 (Rus)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbTgaE1FAkU (Rus) Webinar
 Classcraft

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQfNFTMc8kA
 Quizlet

• Flashcards
• Learning
• Test
• Gravity
• Matching
• Live
 Kahoot
• Registration
www.kahoot.com

• Creating quizzes
https://create.kahoot.it/

• Searching for quizzes

https://create.kahoot.it/discover

• Play
https://kahoot.it/
 Quizizz

• Classes
• Library
• Report
• Collection
• Homework
• Memes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9wUNMDsbsQ
 Wordwall

• Random wheel • Anagram

• Wordsearch • Gameshow quiz
• Matching pairs • Wack a mall
• Labelled diagram • Hangman
• Balloon pop • Quiz

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOWIWFgbPy4
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFv05L0ZVZw
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7H76TXXkp0
Gamification in rural
areas
Leaderboard, badges, gifts, certificates
 Example #1: Individual competition

• Weekly tests
• Top 3 leaders
• Winners two weeks in a row
get a gift
 Example #2: Group competition

• Groups of 4
• High-performing students
help low-performing ones
• Weekly tests
• Winners two weeks in a row
get a gift
 Example #3: Theme competition

• Groups of 4
• High-performing students help low-
performing ones
• Groups who finish earlier get more
points
• Gifts
 Theme samples
• Shrek
• The Wizard of Oz
• Beauty and the Beast
• Hansel and Gretel
• Sleeping Beauty
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Game of Thrones
• Develop your own theme
 Rules:
• You have three lives;
• Every time you die, you lose all points.
• You have to help each other to pass some levels.
• You must be creative to pass some levels.
• If you finish two levels in a row faster than the other groups
you will get one hint in the next level.
 Sample tasks
To rescue the princess, you have to:
• pass though the den of a giant spider. It will ask you three
questions.
• get to the other bank of the river. The boatman will ask you
three questions.
• kill the dragon with a special sword which is hidden in the
forest. The raven can help you but you have to answer his
questions.
Language games
 Memory game #1

• Show 10 words from the previous lesson on the board for 5-10
seconds.
• Remove them.
• Allot 1 minute to write them down from memory.
• Check if students remember all of them and if they know the
meaning of those words.

ALTERNATIVE:
• Show a video
 Memory game #2

• Attach different magnets/pictures on the board and show the

board to your students for 5-10 seconds.
• Remove one magnet/picture or change its place on the board.
• Ask students what has changed.
 Memory game #3

• Show a picture to your students for 5-10 seconds.

• Remove it.
• Students should tell what they remember or the teacher can
ask questions, such as: “What color is the ….?” “How many ….
are there?” etc.

ALTERNATIVE:
• Show a video
 Questions

• Where is the pencil?

• Where is the schoolbag?
• Where is the doll?
• What is between the chair and the pink bed?
• What is on the shelf above the desk?
Find a difference (first picture)
Find a difference (second picture)
 Pictionary
• Students draw objects, people, etc.
• Possible topics:
 Jobs
 Feelings
 Animals
 Idioms
 Phrasal verbs
 Phrases

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZdrC7Va0F0
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRhv3xzCORI
 Zoom in (Vocabulary)

• Zoom in a picture
• Show a fragment to students
• Students must guess what it is
Zoom in (Vocabulary)
Zoom (Warm-up)
Zoom (Warm-up)
 Charades
• Students mime objects, people, etc.
• Possible topics:
 Jobs
 Feelings
 Animals
 Idioms
 Phrasal verbs
 Phrases

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXH1dVI8Jic
 Simon says
• Simon says, ‘Touch your nose’.
• Simon says, ‘Hop on your left foot’.
• Touch your toes.
• Simon says, ‘Clap your hands’.
• Simon says, ‘Close your eyes’.
• Simon says, ‘Ride a horse’.
• Drive a car.
 Scavenger hunt
On campus
• Touch something blue.
• Touch something the size of your head.

Online classes
• Bring something that starts with letter “M”.
• Bring two things that could be antonyms.
• Bring a toy.
Who am I? (Yes/No-Questions)
 Two True and One False Sentence
• Divide students in groups of 4.
• Students write two true and one false sentence about
themselves. They must use the topic that they learnt during
the lesson.
• Group mates must guess which sentence is false by asking
questions.
• Group leader can share the most interesting sentences of his
group with the whole class, who must guess which are true
and which is false.
 Auction (Grammar)
• Divide the class into 3 groups and allot 100 dollars each.
• Write 7-10 sentences on the board, some of which are correct
and some are not. Do NOT tell the students which are correct.
• Students must buy as many correct sentences as they can.
• Students must bet and buy sentences.
• Revise and give feedback.
 I challenge you to …

• Call as many transportation means as you can

• Recite as many rules of Present Perfect as you can
• To write a sentence with as many tenses as you can
• To name as many fruits as you can
• To name all students’ last names.
 Hot seat
The aim of the game is for the students in the teams to describe the given
word, using synonyms, antonyms, definitions etc. to their team mate who is
in the hot seat - that person can't see the word!
• As the teacher, have a list of vocabulary items that you want to use in this
game.
• Take the first word from that list and write it clearly on the board.
• The student in the hot seat listens to their team mates and tries to guess
the word.
• The first hot seat student to say the word wins a point for their team.
• Then change the students over, with a new member of each team taking
their place in their team's hot seat.
 Liar

• Students write a story about themselves. It might be a funny or unusual

story. (Make sure you collect the stories before online lessons or make your
students write their stories during a class but play the game the following
day because you might waste class time.)
• The teacher reads the story to the whole class and shares it on his/her
screen.
• Next, the teacher invites three students by calling their names.
• Students must guess who the real writer is by asking questions.
• Two students are liars. They must make up answers and pretend that they
are the real author of the story.
Jeopardy / Quiz Show
 $ 500

Nursultan Nazarbayev is a/an_____ .

A airport B street
: :

C university D city
: :
 References
• Cugelman, Brian. 2013. Gamification: What It Is and Why It
Matters to Digital Health Behavior Change Developers. JMIR
Serious Games, 1:1. Available at
http://games.jmir.org/2013/1/e3/#box1, accessed March 20,
2016.