Gamification: The Experience of Experience

     I love the idea of learning through hands-on experience, manipulation, creation, and the true ownership and engagement of the learner. I have no idea, however, where to start to implement the concept of gamification into my own class and content. I agree, as the author of " At Libraries Across America" stated, that teenage boys were highly motivated by the gaming options of the local library. It makes a great deal of sense to me that gaming could be used as a tool to reel them into the library, have them read text embedded within the games and somehow expose them to traditional text while they are there as well. One great difference between gaming in education and more traditional instructional strategies is the trial and error experience, the risk of failure, and yet the accountability resting on the students to reach a goal. This becomes an authentic learning experience when students can become a part of the experience rather than a passive participant. What I don't know is what games would be beneficial in my English I, II, III and IV courses. What is out there and available? Should my students create the games and if so, how? As I approach a new semester of teaching to include English IV, traditionally British literature and not my greatest strength, I wonder what is out there that might motivate my students to be a part of something unimaginable otherwise? I found a great infographic that mentioned a game that allowed the experience of Shakespeare's world to come alive. If I knew more about this, could find this, what technology requirements would I need from my school and for my students? I actually would have loved to see us explore this concept earlier in the course. It seems like common sense to think that making learning a game would be a great motivator. I have thought this all along. My only complaint is that everyone may not see it this way and may fail to see the value in such lessons. And I know there are games available that require little reading, little creativity and limited analysis. Learning disguised as fun. I love it!! Let's play!