Rewarding the Brain with Games

As I go through the course, I continue to have new thoughts of gaming in the classroom. When I watch this video, I see how gaming could benefit me in my classroom. In our school in Baldwin County, every student has the opportunity to have a Macbook Air. The students use these computers everyday in my classroom. Time after time, I hear teachers talking about how the technology gives students the ability to do things they want to do, instead of their school work; such as playing games. That is where I want to focus this post; with the reflection of the video "Seven Ways Games Reward the Brain".

As Tom Chatfield explains how the brain wants to be engaged and excited, I think about students in my classroom. These students are no different than other people who love to play games. The games give them a satisfaction. They help the student to become confident and to continue. They keep students engaged.

Teachers get so frustrated when students are playing games rather than paying attention in class or doing the assigned work. With the gaming format in mind, what would my classroom look like? Would my students be engaged with my activities more than they are now? How could I reward students as they progress through the class? I believe all of these are questions that go through my mind as I think about gaming in the classroom. But, one thought that will probably always hold me back is this: How do I get students to the maturity level to move on to the next grade? In other words: How can I prepare them for college when no one else is using these engaging tools? Would it be fair to my students to learn this way and then, the next year, they are completely unmotivated and not willing to learn? 

I hope to explore these questions much farther as I progress through this class. From the video, I think about how FNDS 6223 uses a point system to gain a grade. This philosophy is very similar to my professor at the University of South Alabama, Dr. John Strange, in which he openly doesn't like grades.  He taught the class EDM 310 but is now retired. I believe if he could see what we do in this class, he would certainly approve! Also, badges and awards are a big part of this class that I do enjoy. I get the same brain satisfaction as Tom Chatfield describes in the video. 

I hope to continue to explore how I can incorporate gaming into my classroom, but at the same time, give my students the opportunities to grow and become successful students in future classes.