RLS Middle

Key Points:

1. It's crucial to create a game that can be played by a variety of ages who vary by level. Special Education students and English Language Learners need to be included in these games!
2. It is beneficial to create a Google site where all game rules can be kept and where students can go to keep track of their points. Spreadsheets, gadgets, and power point presentations can easily be uploaded to a Google site for all students to access.
3. New terms were created so that students were more engaged in what they were doing. Instead of doing a worksheet, they were attacking and fighting a monster! Instead of a project or presentation, they were completing quests! It is much more exciting for a child to be doing the same thing with different terminology.
4. Students all started as a Level 1 Avatar. Everyone of course wanted to upgrade their avatar. This is a great way to use external motivation to inspire internal motivation. The students start to realize that they want to work harder so they can become a better and smarter student!
5. Much of the hype about the multiplayer classroom must be at the beginning. Teachers have to allow time for their students to really get in to the whole idea of a game-based classroom. This means giving them time to draw their avatars, talk about their strengths and weaknesses, form alliances with classmates who balance out their strengths and weaknesses, and create identity through drawing shields and creating logos.
6. I love the way the teacher gave XP points to entire teams if everyone on their team was working and on task! It helps students keep their classmates accountable for learning!
7. Different amounts of points would be distributed throughout the day including anything from homework to behavior.  Students were more motivated when they knew their teacher was constantly seeking out students to give points to. 
8. Students could also cash in their points for actual items!
9. The guilds allowed for a sense of unity. When someone in a guild forgot to close their laptop, their whole group received negative XP.
10. This kind of game-based classroom can especially inspire students who are not all that interested in school. The teachers in the article noticed that many students were more on task, more engaged, and worked better with others in the class.  This simple system can drastically improve the attitude in a classroom.