Introducing Gamification to Administrators, Colleagues, and Parents
Share your plan with your administrators and colleagues.
School administrators play a valuable role when educators wish to bring new technologies into their classrooms. As leaders and role models, administrators can help build a culture where teachers collaborate towards a shared vision of implementing new technologies into the school to improve learning (Billig et al., 2005; Glazer et al., 2005). Administrators can ensure that teachers have the resources and support they need, and that the use of technology, like digital games, are connected to sound pedagogy and curriculum (Saples et al., 2005).
By letting other staff members know how you are planning on using digital games in a meaningful way in your classroom, it will promote collaboration and possibly a support system. Some teachers may be using digital games already in their classrooms and may provide you with some assistance, whereas others may be interested in using digital games in their classroom, but need some ideas and direction to get started. At the very least, it will stimulate more dialogue concerning the use of digital games in the classroom, which could lead to new ideas and opportunities.
Inform parents
Many parents will want to know how you plan on using digital games to promote learning. Once you have a solid plan on how you will effectively incorporate the use of games into your lessons, share it with your students’ parents. Some possible ways to do this are:
- Send a letter home to parents. Consider making it a form where students need to bring back a portion with their parent’s or guardian’s signature so as to ensure that they have received the information.
- Create a blog or website. Construct a website or blog that allows parents to digitally access information about the games and how you will be using them. Consider having links to the games themselves (if possible) and a discussion board or email contact so that it is convenient for them to contact you if they have questions.
- Have a general meeting. Host a public meeting for parents to showcase how you plan on using digital games. For convenience sake, think of including it as part of an already programmed event such as Meet the Teacher Night or parent-teacher interviews. Consider having the games showcased using an overhead projector to show parents their educational features, how it is accessed and played, as well as how parents can assist their children if playing from home.