Unit 6: Gamification

 The Theory

The best way to ensure that students are learning is to ensure that they are engaged in what they’re learning. Students who are interested in a lesson or activity are going to be more willing to participate and pay attention and will absorb more of the learning than those who are not. A great way to engage all learners? Games! Gamify.com defines gamification as the addition of game elements to non-game activities (2023). By creating opportunities for games during instruction, group work, and independent practice, teachers are able to engage students and create fun and meaningful learning opportunities. For language learners, this is super beneficial because it removes some of the pressure and stress of learning and allows them to explore language and content in a fun, low-stakes environment.

Link to Resource

https://www.sdlback.com/webinar-series/gamification-for-ells?srsltid=AfmBOorPIjrs3RBFnFKUlIyRjwjWHv__yNByjRGtYNRA2ciR8bUT4XIe

In the above article, Mangus shares the difference between gamification and game-based learning. She states, “Game based learning is just using game elements to teach a specific skill or achieve a specific learning outcome. Gamification is the application of the aspect of a game to your regular setting (2025).” The article goes on to share many specific strategies that can be used to gamify typical day to day routines and lessons in the classroom. One example is a game called Guess the Word where students give one another clues to get them to guess a mystery word. Another example is Clap and Catch where students toss a ball around the circle and answer a discussion question. During these activities, typical class lessons and discussions are taking place, but they are gamified due to elements such as guessing games and playing catch. The site also recommended an online game website called Bamboozle. After exploring Bamboozle.com, I immediately realized that this is a valuable resource for my classroom, and I plan to use it as soon as possible. Bamboozle is free and has a variety of topics that can be selected for game play. The game board is displayed online in a Jeopardy style, and students can select questions to answer verbally and earn points.

Benefits and Roadblocks

There are countless benefits to gamification and game-based learning, particularly when working with multilingual learners. A major benefit is the motivation factor. Games can be extremely motivating for students because they are fun and tap into student motivation and desire to win and accomplish a goal. Another benefit is the social aspect of games. Students collaborate with peers which can help create friendships and connections. In addition, students learn valuable skills like problem-solving, team building, and working together to achieve a common goal. Being a contributing member of a team can motivate multilingual learners to participate when they may otherwise be feeling reluctant to speak up.

            A potential roadblock with gamification could be student behaviors. When playing games, students can get very excited. Changes in routine and a relaxed structure can cause these excited feelings to turn into escalated behaviors. Teachers implementing gamification and game-based learning should be sure to make behavior expectations clear prior to the start of the game to ensure that things run smoothly. In addition, teachers should explain that while games are fun, the purpose is to learn and review content.

Adaptation for a Third Grade Classroom

I am really eager to adapt some of the gamification strategies I’ve discovered throughout this unit for my own classroom. There are quick and simple ways I can gamify my day-to-day classroom discussions by incorporating a ball toss game. This will encourage students to “share the stage” by throwing to others who may be hesitant to speak up during a typical discussion. This will also encourage students to be active listeners during lessons and discussions so that they are prepared to respond appropriately when the discussion ball is thrown to them.

            I plan to incorporate Bamboozle into my classroom as soon as possible. The resource is great because there are pre-created content sets that correspond with countless skills and concepts. I created a Bamboozle account and typed “irregular plurals” into the search bar because that is a recent word study skill my class practiced. Multiple game sets popped up right away. I clicked on one, and the directions were very clear and easy to follow. Students should be divided up into teams and the game board will be displayed on the main board in class. My classroom has an interactive Clear Touch Panel that will be the perfect tool for this game. Next, one team at a time selects a question from the Jeopardy-style game board. The team discusses their answer as a group and group members take turns sharing their answer.

This is a great way to encourage participation from all students- especially language learners who may be reluctant to speak up and offer answers in class. Having the opportunity to discuss an idea with a team prior to answering allows a safety net of shared responsibility and ownership of the answer. If the team gets the answer correct, I will click the “correct” button, and that team will automatically be awarded points. The game continues until all of the questions have been answered. Bamboozle will best fit into my classroom as a review activity that takes place after direct instruction. This allows students to build knowledge of a concept and practice in a fun way to help retain the information learned. Since the topics on Bamboozle are so vast, it can be utilized during any subject.

 

References:

Gamify. (2023). What is Gamification? Gamify. https://www.gamify.com/what-is-gamification

Saddleback Education Publishing (2025). Gamification for ELLs. Hi-Lo Books. https://www.sdlback.com/webinar-series/gamification-for-ells?srsltid=AfmBOorPIjrs3RBFnFKUlIyRjwjWHv__yNByjRGtYNRA2ciR8bUT4XIe