Turn your class into a video game! Recently, I read of a video game university back home in the USA doing this. I think something like this could be a hit in countries like China, Japan, and S. Korea. Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games are HUGE in these countries (especially China and SK). Anyways, here's the idea....
Essentially, this is quite similar to role-playing games like Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and World of Warcraft. Students begin the class at level 1 with zero experience points (or a grade of 0.) As the semester advances, students are tasked with defeating monsters (completing worksheets), forming quest parties (doing group activities), fighting bosses (completing tests), and skill crafting (presentations). As these tasks are completed, players (students) earn experience points (a number based on completing tasks.) When students acquire a set amount of experience points, the students will level up and acquire some sort of reward. Awards have yet to be determined, but should be done so based on the teacher. A player sheet will be given to each student the first day of class. Needed information: such as Name, age, date of birth, and a brief description of themselves. There is also a place where the student can draw themselves on the paper. The teacher may periodically hand out stat sheets (report cards) with stats based on certain areas important to the class (such as confidence, group work, etc.)
Attached below is a 'player sheet' or a good way to have an ice breaker and go about explaining things on the first day. I have the idea of having students complete the information sheet, the teacher taking the sheet and distributing the sheets randomly to different students. Then, the students must come up with a questionnaire based on what they find and go around and find whoever the person is they have on their sheet by asking questions relevant to it. IE. Do you like.... Is your hobby.... Is your hometown.... |