Level up: Gamification in the Classroom

Innovator: Selçuk Yusuf Arslan, https://www.linkedin.com/in/selcukyarslan/

Organisation: Atatürk MTAL, Ankara

Setting of the practice: face to face 

Description of the practice:

Gamification is about transforming the classroom environment and regular activities into a game. It requires creativity, collaboration and play.  Gamification is all about motivation and engagement. In recent years, we have come across many studies on gamification. As a teacher, there is no reason why I shouldn't use the power of gamification...

I teach my students to code with C#. I also developed an educational software with C#. I integrated gamification into my lesson with this software I named Level Up. In the first stage, course students are registered to Level Up. Each student can choose their own avatar. Avatars make students feel valued and believe in this app. The following behaviors of students are rewarded with points:

1. Do the tasks given in the lesson

2. Participating in volunteer work outside the classroom

3. Attending the lesson on time

4. Doing the assigned homework

5. Collaborate with friends

6. Obtaining a certificate in ICT

7. Attending ICT courses outside of school

8. Comply with and contribute to class rules

9. Carrying out studies for environmental protection

10. Winning an award in national or international competitions

The course teacher can add behaviors other than these. Each behavior has a different score. Students earn a badge by collecting points. There are 3 different badges for students in the system: role model student, hero student and incredible student. The badges received by the student appear on their avatar. In addition, a leaderboard is shared with students every month. In this way, their positive behavior is supported. Negative behaviors of students are not punished. The software only tries to reinforce positive behaviors. In addition, students can rate their friends' positive behaviors. In this way, peer review is also supported.

According to the badges received, students are also given awards such as books and robotic vehicles. In addition, at the end of the year, students' scores are used as performance points. In this way, students get the chance to improve their exam grades.

I updated the Level up software this summer with the feedback I received from the students. I look forward to using the new version with excitement in the next academic year.