Game-based Pedagogy, Or Adding More Fun!



I often feel like I have one foot in the past of traditional ways of teaching and learning and the other is tentatively reaching for technology and the future. I am definitely more comfortable unplugged and have my biases about computerization. I know I want to become more familiar and relaxed with the online world. I turn to my techie colleagues to find new ways to integrate technology into my lessons in a comfortable way. A few teachers on staff are tech wizards and love to share what they know (if only I had more time to pick their brains!) Many of the ways in which they use technology include having access to our class set of Chrome Books. There is a struggle at my school to have technology available for all. 

 This week, I jumped into Kahoot, to further my own own skills, pedagogy and professional development. I want to add new technology strategies, tools, and resources to my teaching in the Learning Commons. Some of my colleagues use it regularly with great student enthusiasm. I thought I should explore the game-based learning platform and create some games of my own. Here are some of my first creations; Coast Salish quiz, Myth, Fairytale, Fable or Legend quiz. 

 If interested in Kahoot, but don't know what it's about, please check out this video; 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlXpKHH5kh0
And here's a quick tutorial on how to start with your first Kahoot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAfnia7-rMk

 I'm hoping as I become more familiar with Kahoot, it will be easier to include tech integration with my lessons. It is a useful platform because you can supplement any curriculum with a Kahoot quiz. The results are easily viewed, so students can self-assess their knowledge. I am looking forward to integrating more Kahoot quizzes next year, as a way to engage students and have a quick snapshot of their comprehension.
InsideHalton.com  Event for Stoney Creek Adult Book Club

 On the flip side of technology,  I am pleased about my newest club, which takes a more traditional approach to professional development. The TL's in my district are connecting and sharing their learning through our newly formed Professional Learning Group (PLG) in the form of a book club. We are all reading from a collective list of YA books, in order to become familiar with the material, gauge it's audience and discuss and collaborate ideas for lessons, curricular connections and literary quality. 
Image result for tomboy book

Goals of our Teacher Librarian Book Club

* To allow TLs an opportunity to read YA hot books and discuss them as a group
* To allow TLs to share their learning and understanding of these hot YA books with the idea of others accessing the list for guidance
* To grow our understanding and knowledge of hot YA books that will assist in helping students and teachers with recommendations both curricular and free-reading
                                                                                                                    
Image result for indian horse bookOur first books include;
- Wrinkle in Time (Graphic novel)
- TomBoy (Graphic novel)
- Aristotle and Dante discover the Secrets of the     Universe  
- The War That Saved My Life
- Indian Horse                                                                
- The Hate U Give
- The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain


As our club has just formed, I look forward to many future meetings to discuss and listen to the wide array of perspectives that will be shared with me. I look forward to discussing these books with my students and look forward to hearing their experiences and opinions as they read for curiosity and pleasure.


Works Cited

Driscoll, Tom. “5 Minute Guide to Kahoot.” YouTube, YouTube, 14 Nov. 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAfnia7-rMk.

Kahoot!. “What Is Kahoot!?” YouTube, YouTube, 22 Dec. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlXpKHH5kh0.

Prince, Liz. Tomboy a Graphic Memoir. Zest Books, 2014.

Wagamese, Richard. Indian Horse: a Novel. Milweed Editions, 2018.


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