Gamification
is a relatively new concept in education. It is something that we can
use to motivate students and teachers to be their very best and to
pursue extrinsic rewards with our badges. I have decided to try out
gamification with the teachers at Mar Vista Academy because I think they
will benefit from this type of professional development.
Badge
List is a web based platform that allows users to create badges and to
submit evidence to earn these badges. I have created a Badge List
learning group for Mar Vista Academy teachers to learn about different
technology tools that can better themselves and better their classroom
practices. At the beginning of the 2015-2016 school year I will have
approximately 30 badges available for teachers to earn. These badges
range from technology tools to iPad apps to classroom message. There’s
even a badge for guest bloggers on this block. Teachers who are
interested in earning a badge simply sign up for badge list, join the
learning group, and click on the badge they are interested in earning.
Users then submit evidence for each component of the batch. This
evidence could be a link to a student product a written explanation, or a
picture.
In
the future I hope to expand badges to Google tools and for more
advanced creation such as teachers creating their own tutorials.
I
also will create badges for parents to learn about the different
technology tools that we had at Mar Vista Academy. From feedback from
parents they would prefer online trainings to in person sessions because
online meets their busy scheduling needs. Badges for parents will
include the different tools we use at school such as canvas and Jupiter,
ways to manage technology at home, and sample student products.
Reflecting
back on this badge creating process I have learned a lot for myself.
One of the coolest things that I have gotten experience with is Google
draw. Google draw is a simple way to create graphics and illustrations
that is user-friendly and does not rely on a large skill set of programs
such as Photoshop. For a graphic designing newbie such as myself Google
draw was easy to learn and easy to use. I enjoyed creating each and
every badge that you see in our Badge List learning group.
Check out our BadgeLIst learning group:
1. Go to http://www.badgelist.com/mva-viking-teachers
2. Sign up for BadgeList and join our learning group "MVA Viking Teachers"
3. Click on the badge “Badge Beginner”
4. Click on “Post Text” in the required evidence section and follow the instructions there
I will then review your evidence and award you the badge.
Here are some sample badges you can earn:
(images are inserted on the blog post)
