Assess, Connect, & Play: Gaming & Game Design With Nearpod

Purpose & objective

The participants will be able to:
Understand how to utilize interactive lessons for the best impact
Engage in differentiated presentation and assessment methods
Understand the purpose of gamified learning and how it connects both to social-emotional learning skills and future-readiness skills
Play through a gamified professional learning experience
Create engaging assessments for students themselves
Ensure accessible personalized learning materials
See how to engage in collaborative challenge activities across in-person and remote learning spaces.
This type of gamified professional learning model has been amongst the most popular sessions and most effective at initiating culture-shift at several other conferences where we have engaged in it. We have used it with students and through in-person and remote events. Moreso this specific session will push people to look outside their idea of how creativity can be modeled in a classroom

Outline

Intro (2-5 min)-Background and introductions, stated outcomes, and directions in joining the Nearpod lesson collectively

The Why of Games (5 min)-We will explore the research behind the power of games for learning along with a brief history and explanation of what EduGames have been most effective

Example Damified Lesson (10 min)-We will guide teachers through an exemplar inclusive and playful lesson with a range of opportunities for them to playfully participate and share their stories and experiences as well.

Let’s Play (15-20 min)-The whole session is a game where participants will play to learn, but we will break it down into segments.
Nearpod built-in games
Quick Games
Board Games & Games shows
Advanced Games/Escape Rooms
Challenge-Based Learning

Game Design (25 min) - We will walk participants through the creation of their own games..

Conclusion/Call to Action (5 min)-Not only will learners to be able to take away the full presentation with built-in notes along with their own creations, but we will share a range of other resources and templates we have compiled for educators that they can bring back to instill playful learning in their schools as well.

Supporting research

https://braveintheattempt.com/2017/07/31/10-important-research-findings-on-games-in-education/
https://braveintheattempt.com/2020/03/31/remote-learning-in-special-education/
https://news.nearpod.com/pdf/research-paper-student-npp-new.pdf
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2021.622860/full