Arcadia Parson discusses the transformative power of gamifying the curriculum in tech education for grades 6-8, emphasizing that gamification can be done easily and at no cost. She highlights the benefits of using technology to enhance learning experiences, such as student autonomy and engagement, while encouraging educators to build a strong personal learning network (PLN) for continuous growth. The document includes practical tips, resources, and tools for gamifying educational practices and leveraging technology effectively.

1. Presented by Arcadia Parson, Tech Ed Teacher, Grades 6-8
Teaching with Tech
Arcadia Parson
@TechWithParson
aeparson@vbschools.com

2. Transforming Your Class with Technology
● Gamifying your curriculum can transform
your class
● Gamifying is easy and can be done for
free
● Use tech tools to transform activities, not
just digitize old ones
● Growing your PLN will transform your
teaching

3. Questions to Consider
● What do I already do that could fall under
modification or redefinition?
● What tasks do I want to transform this
semester?
● Do I already know a tech tool that will
work, or do I need some ideas?
● What resources (people or products) do I
have in my building?

4. Why Should You Gamify?
● Your students (and probably you) are already
playing games every day
● Take the community building and competitive
aspects we all love and apply them to the classroom
● Transform your class into an epic journey that your
students are on for the year
● Gamification is just a framework and facelift for the
great work you already do

5. How To Gamify Easily
● Play something every day!
● Create a compelling narrative
● Add the other game elements (experience, levels, rewards)
● Start small — think one class or one subject
● Have fun with it!

6. How Technology Transforms
● Not just paperless
● Self-paced and learning from experts
● Student voice and choice
● Pre-record lesson elements for students
● Free yourself up to work 1-on-1, even in large classes
● Create your goal for the task before picking your tech

8. Technology Can Transform Your Class!
● “Paperless isn’t pedagogy” - Alice Keeler
● Bring experts in the field into your classroom
● Let students work at their own pace and only receive direct help when they need it
● Give students voice and choice in how they show you what they learned
● Pre-record lesson elements for students so they don’t have to wait
● Get the opportunity to work 1-on-1, even in the biggest classes!
● Design projects with the goal in mind and then find a tool to make it happen!
● Use your Personal Learning Network!

9. Why You Should Grow Your PLN
● Gamifying is a growing trend in education, but still isn’t widespread
● Having an expansive Personal Learning Network allows you to get answers quickly and
constantly grow your practice
● A PLN is a place for mutually beneficial growth
● Try to make it global. The further your reach, the bigger the pool of ideas!
● Find a few people to follow and check out who they follow
● Participate (or observe) in Twitter chats

10. Resources
Tools Mentioned:
● Screencastify (Chrome Extension)
● Flipgrid
● Bloxels
● Wakelet
Other Resources:
● Twitter Chats: #Games4Ed #tlap #EdTechAfterDark
● Participate: A place to find Twitter chats!
● Book: Teach Like a Pirate
● Twitter List: Gamification
● Alice Keeler/@AliceKeeler
● Podcasts:
○ Ed Tech Takeout
○ Google Teacher Tribe

11. Questions?

12. Arcadia Parson
Tech Ed. Teacher, Grades 6-8
@TechWithParson
aeparson@vbschools.com
classcraft.com
facebook.com/classcraftgame
@classcraftgame
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