The Tech Edvocate

Top Menu

  • Advertisement
  • Apps
  • Home Page
  • Home Page Five (No Sidebar)
  • Home Page Four
  • Home Page Three
  • Home Page Two
  • Home Tech2
  • Icons [No Sidebar]
  • Left Sidbear Page
  • My Account
  • My Speaking Page
  • Newsletter Sign Up Confirmation
  • Newsletter Unsubscription
  • Our Brands
  • Page Example
  • Protected Content
  • Register
  • Request a Product Review
  • Shop
  • Shortcodes Examples
  • Signup
  • Start Here
    • Governance
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
  • The Edvocate
  • Topics
  • Write For Us
  • Advertise

Main Menu

  • Start Here
    • Our Brands
    • Governance
      • Dr. Lynch’s Personal Website
      • Careers
    • Write For Us
    • Contact Us
    • Books
    • Edupedia
    • The Edvocate Podcast
  • Topics
    • Assistive Technology
    • Child Development Tech
    • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTech
    • EdTech Futures
    • EdTech News
    • EdTech Policy & Reform
    • EdTech Startups & Businesses
    • Higher Education EdTech
    • Online Learning & eLearning
    • Parent & Family Tech
    • Personalized Learning
    • Product Reviews
  • Advertise
    • Request a Product Review
  • Apps
  • Tech Edvocate Awards
  • The Edvocate
  • Pedagogue

logo

The Tech Edvocate

  • Start Here
    • Our Brands
    • Governance
      • Dr. Lynch’s Personal Website
        • My Speaking Page
      • Careers
    • Write For Us
    • Contact Us
    • Books
    • Edupedia
    • The Edvocate Podcast
  • Topics
    • Assistive Technology
    • Child Development Tech
    • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTech
    • EdTech Futures
    • EdTech News
    • EdTech Policy & Reform
    • EdTech Startups & Businesses
    • Higher Education EdTech
    • Online Learning & eLearning
    • Parent & Family Tech
    • Personalized Learning
    • Product Reviews
  • Advertise
    • Request a Product Review
  • Apps
  • Tech Edvocate Awards
  • The Edvocate
  • Pedagogue
  • How Learning Online Helps Students Pursue Their Passions

  • How M-Learning is Transforming Online Education

  • Free Resources to Help Everyone Navigate Online Learning

  • K-12 Districts Keep Students Safe with Web Filters and Monitors

  • Fun Resources for Online Learning

  • How Speech-Language Therapists Can Prepare for Teaching Remotely

  • Promoting Online Access With Hotspots, Laptops, and Planning

  • How Technology Can Transform Learning

  • How Can Technology Coaches And Content Coaches Work Together?

  • Introducing Game Design Into the Modern Classroom

Personalized Learning
Home›Personalized Learning›Using Gamification in Teacher Professional Development

Using Gamification in Teacher Professional Development

By Matthew Lynch
January 19, 2017
Spread the love

If you asked a room of teacher if they would rather work, play, or participate in professional development, professional development would likely come in last. Often, people imagine being stuck in classrooms listening to a lecture or chained to a computer for e-learning courses. And while these tried-and-true methods for professional development aren’t going anywhere, there are methods for increasing engagement amongst the teachers in attendance. One of those methods, if gamification.

Understanding Gamification

Gamification involves bringing elements traditionally associated with video games into the learning environment. Often, this involves concepts like points accrual, leveling, competition, and rewards being integrated into lessons that previously used another format. Additionally, most video games provide a safe space for failure, as players can respawn or open a previous save and try again. The purpose of gamification is to increase engagement by making the tasks both challenging and entertaining, but also giving participants a chance to try again if they don’t immediately succeed.

Most commonly, teachers and administrators are interested in bringing those concepts into the classroom to help students improve. But the ideas that make gamification unique can also be applied to professional development for teachers.

Unique Challenges of Teacher Professional Development

When most teachers think of learning, they see a classroom full of students who are being exposed to material for the first time. But professional development courses for teachers don’t maintain that paradigm. Instead, there is a room full of teachers instead of traditional students. Often, these teachers have other demands on their time, like grading papers and lesson planning. Additionally, the information presented in a professional development course might not be new to the learner.

All of those factors breed disaster when it comes to engagement. Teachers attending the course may be distracted by other priorities, or simply uninterested in rehashing information with which they are already familiar.

Gamification of Professional Development

To gamify professional development, instructors need to focus on student involvement. Often, this involves increasing the social requirements in the learning experience. Points based progress and leaderboards can also motivate those participating in the training to keep pushing forward.

However, it is important to find options that bring more to the experience than a simple novelty. If the information isn’t valuable, the intrinsic motivation related to the learning process will decline. Additionally, the process needs to be streamlined to fit efficiently into a teacher’s otherwise busy day.

The priority of all professional development should be on creating quality content first and then adjusting the delivery system to increase motivation and overall engagement. Part of gamification is making the experience fun. Celebrate achievements along the way, and give participants a chance to learn from their mistakes and try again. Let the teachers earn shareable badges along the way, and create cumulative profiles of their accomplishments throughout their careers.

Most teachers value the learning experience, so part of the intrinsic drive already exists. All you have to do is find a way to take that drive and point it towards fun activities that convey the message of the course. Then, kick back and let their excitement push the rest forward.


Spread the love
TagsEdtechedtechchatelearningSTEAMSTEM
Previous Article

The Tech Edvocate’s List of 50 Must-Read ...

Next Article

Why Makerspaces Are the Key to Innovation

Matthew Lynch

Related articles More from author

  • Online Learning & eLearningPersonalized Learning

    Are massive open online classes still the wave of the future?

    June 16, 2016
    By Matthew Lynch
  • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTechEdTech FuturesPersonalized Learning

    Using Infographic Creation Tools in the Classroom

    November 6, 2016
    By Matthew Lynch
  • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTechEdTech Startups & Businesses

    Plagiarism Concerns Are Prevalent Among US Students

    July 12, 2016
    By Matthew Lynch
  • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTech

    Computer Science in K-12 Classrooms Needs to Catch Up

    June 21, 2016
    By Matthew Lynch
  • Uncategorized

    Trailblazing Companies in Edtech: ClassDojo

    August 2, 2017
    By Matthew Lynch
  • Uncategorized

    How to Engage Digitally Distracted Students

    January 21, 2018
    By Matthew Lynch

2 comments

  1. Pallavi Fox 19 January, 2017 at 12:47 Reply

    That was such a wonderful article.Blending gamification with learning is an exciting journey that students cherish. Both the teacher and student need to progress, and in the long-run, a positive environment of progression is nurtured in the school.

  2. Preston Dorey 19 January, 2017 at 19:14 Reply

    Thanks for the excellent series of articles on gamification. Your arguments are always compelling and well-researched.
    I look forward to seeing more of your work.

Leave a reply Cancel reply

  • Parent & Family TechParental Involvement

    5 Apps for Teaching Your Child to Tell Time

  • Uncategorized

    What Are the Pros and Cons of EdTech in the Classroom?

  • Higher EducationHigher Education EdTechOnline Learning & eLearning

    Reimagining and Transforming Educational Learning Environments in Higher Education

Search

Login & Registration

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Newsletter

Signup for The Tech Edvocate Newsletter and have the latest in EdTech news and opinion delivered to your email address!

  • Recent

  • Popular

  • Comments

  • How Learning Online Helps Students Pursue Their Passions

    By Matthew Lynch
    April 9, 2021
  • How M-Learning is Transforming Online Education

    By Matthew Lynch
    April 8, 2021
  • Free Resources to Help Everyone Navigate Online Learning

    By Matthew Lynch
    April 7, 2021
  • K-12 Districts Keep Students Safe with Web Filters and Monitors

    By Matthew Lynch
    April 6, 2021
  • Fun Resources for Online Learning

    By Matthew Lynch
    April 5, 2021
  • 20 Top Virtual Reality Apps that are Changing Education

    By Matthew Lynch
    March 11, 2017
  • 7 Ways Technology Is Impacting Modern Education

    By Matthew Lynch
    March 4, 2017
  • Why Mobile Technology Enhances Instruction

    By Matthew Lynch
    December 14, 2016
  • What is the Future of Online Learning in Higher Education

    By Matthew Lynch
    April 2, 2018
  • 7 Roles for Artificial Intelligence in Education

    By Matthew Lynch
    May 5, 2018
  • K-12 Districts Keep Students Safe with Web Filters and Monitors - The Tech Edvocate
    on
    April 7, 2021

    10 Ways To Make YouTube Safer For Your Students

    […] Youtube has a ...
  • 20 Innovative Techniques to Help Kids Realize Their Academic Potential - The Edvocate
    on
    April 6, 2021

    33 of the Best Apps for Kids in the 10th Grade

    […] of the Best ...
  • 20 Innovative Techniques to Help Kids Realize Their Academic Potential - The Edvocate
    on
    April 6, 2021

    28 of the Best Apps for Kids in the Sixth Grade

    […] 28 of the ...
  • 20 Innovative Techniques to Help Kids Realize Their Academic Potential - The Edvocate
    on
    April 6, 2021

    39 of the Best Apps for Kids in the Second Grade

    […] 39 of the ...
  • The 9 Best Business Books for College Students - The Edvocate
    on
    April 6, 2021

    How to Leverage Technology to Engage Parents at Scale

    […] Berkshire Hathaway Inc ...

EdTech Policy & Reform

  • EdTech Policy & Reform

    How Much Bias Is Okay in Your School?

    Spread the loveThe algorithm has proven itself to be a handy tool when it comes to solving education problems. It’s also not without bias.  You may be wondering how some ...
  • EdTech Policy & ReformFeaturedFresh

    Edtech Should Complement Good Pedagogy, Not Attempt to Replace It

    Spread the loveThe newest generation of edtech is downright amazing; it’s no wonder that various education stakeholders might be a little excited about its potential to transform education. However, edtech ...
  • EdTech Policy & ReformFeaturedFresh

    How to Teach Kids to Communicate in This Digital Age

    Spread the loveWhen even the youngest children are spending the equivalent of a full work day looking at screens, it is perhaps no surprise that parents are wondering how to ...
  • EdTech FuturesEdTech Policy & Reform

    3 Reasons Why India Will Be A Leader in the EdTech Industry in the 21st ...

    Spread the loveAccording to a joint report by KPMG and Google, the online education industry is expected to grow at a healthy rate of 8 times to become a $1.96B ...
  • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTechEdTech Policy & ReformFeaturedFresh

    How Does Technology Immersion Shape the Brain?

    Spread the loveDo you wonder what all of the screen time we have is really doing to our brains? As edtech continues to rise in prominence throughout the world, this ...

EdTech Startups & Businesses

  • EdTech Startups & BusinessesOnline Learning & eLearning

    Using Nudge Theory in Your Corporate Online Learning Classes

    Spread the loveAfter reading this headline, you may be asking yourself, what is nudge theory? Nudge theory centers on positive reinforcement and inferred suggestions to motivate a person to complete ...
  • EdTech Startups & Businesses

    Bringing Education into the Business World

    Spread the loveU.S. businesses spent nearly $20 billion on training in 2019. That number decreased by roughly half from the year before. Companies aren’t providing fewer professional development opportunities for ...
  • EdTech Startups & Businesses

    You Must Include These 3 Things in Your Edtech Business Plan

    Spread the loveDo you have a business plan? It’s the one question you’re going to be asked a lot as you begin your edtech business. The reasons to write a ...
  • EdTech Startups & Businesses

    Edtech Marketing Ideas to Implement Right Now

    Spread the loveEven if you do have the most exceptional edtech product or service in the world, you’ve still got to market it. Your sales and your success depend on ...
  • EdTech Startups & Businesses

    How Your Edtech Startup Can Make the Leap from Failure to Funded

    Spread the loveThe best ideas in edtech are often only ideas. They never become a reality because they lack the funding they need to get off the ground. Taking an ...

Digital Equity

  • Digital & Mobile TechnologyDigital EquityEdTech & Innovation

    Promoting Online Access With Hotspots, Laptops, and Planning

    Spread the loveWhen becoming a leader in the field of education, it is important to consider equity. Some students may not have access to devices or the internet from their ...
  • Digital EquityDigital Leadership

    How Can You Assess the Tech Needs of Your Students Outside of School?

    Spread the loveToday, I received an email from the middle school principal in Los Angeles. She explained to me that the school that she ran was in one of the ...
  • Digital Equity

    It Is Time for the Edtech Industry to Stop Denying Its Equity and Race Problem

    Spread the loveThe EdTech industry is dominated by white employees, white leaders, and white entrepreneurs. If you doubt this statement, just attend an Edtech conference. Admittedly, educators and others don’t ...
  • Digital Equity

    How OER Can Help Overcome the Higher Education Equity Barrier

    Spread the loveThe cornerstone of the American dream is the ability to succeed in life regardless of one’s family of origin. And, for most people, that requires a college education. ...

EdTech Futures

  • EdTech FuturesOnline Learning & eLearning

    IT Trends To Watch As Higher Education Moves Into a New Decade

    Spread the loveEdtech couldn’t have hoped for a better launch into the new decade than the push the industry received from COVID-19. Even the most tech-resistant institutions and individuals have ...
  • EdTech Futures

    4 Emerging EdTech Trends in 2021

    Spread the loveCovid-19 has not only changed education as we know it, but it has forced education technology (EdTech) to up its game. EdTech has been crucial since the start of this ...
  • Adult EducationEdTech & InnovationEdTech FuturesEducation LeadershipEducational LeadershipHigher EducationHigher Education EdTechThe Future of Education

    Education Technology and the Future of Higher Ed Leadership

    Spread the loveEducation Technology (EdTech) has had a more significant impact on education than anyone expected. Now its effects are reaching into the field of higher education. In this article, ...
  • EdTech Futures

    Top Edtech Trends for 2021

    Spread the loveAre you ready to look ahead? Schools will soon be reflecting on what’s been working this year and what’s not. They’ll also begin thinking about their budgets for ...
  • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTechEdTech Futures

    In the Wake of Teacher Shortages, Schools are Turning to Virtual Teachers

    Spread the loveTeaching was once a greatly respected position, and today, morally it still seems to be of high value to many Americans. Institutionally, however, teaching no longer seems to ...

About Us

Since technology is not going anywhere and does more good than harm, adapting is the best course of action. That is where The Tech Edvocate comes in. We plan to cover the PreK-12 and Higher Education EdTech sectors and provide our readers with the latest news and opinion on the subject. From time to time, I will invite other voices to weigh in on important issues in EdTech. We hope to provide a well-rounded, multi-faceted look at the past, present, the future of EdTech in the US and internationally.

We started this journey back in June 2016, and we plan to continue it for many more years to come. I hope that you will join us in this discussion of the past, present and future of EdTech and lend your own insight to the issues that are discussed.

Newsletter

Signup for The Tech Edvocate Newsletter and have the latest in EdTech news and opinion delivered to your email address!

Contact Us

The Tech Edvocate
5322 Markel Road, Suite 104
Richmond, VA 23230
(601) 630-5238
[email protected]

Follow us

Copyright © 2021 Matthew Lynch. All rights reserved.