 For the most part, you will agree that interactive activities are a fun way to teach. Game formats engage the students in an exciting way. They also keep them awake. And when you use competitive games for credit to review a topic, you can be assured the readings will get done. Games change the pace in the classroom and provide an opportunity for everyone to participate, even if they are not the one answering the question. Games help your students retain more information for a longer duration... 
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Elaine Brewer, Director, RICS, has been teaching DISC3369 for three semesters now will attest to this outcome. After trying a few different tools, with varied success, this semester, her buzz word is “game show buzzers”. 
Here is how it works: Each class begins with a pop quiz consisting of 40 multiple choice questions. Each question is displayed on the screen. A set of buzzers are placed on a table in the front of the class.Students are broken into teams. Students have to read the question and wait to get the signal for the designated person to run up front to buzz in. Once they press the buttons, the student device with the red light, which indicates the first to buzz in, has 3 seconds to answer the question. Correct answers earn a point. Incorrect answers lose a point. The team with the most points wins bonus points on the upcoming exam.
But it is not all just fun and games without any learning involved. |
The format of the questions are designed so that each multiple choice option is a topic to be discussed by the class. True false answers must be accompanied by an explanation. This avoids guessing versus knowing the correct answer. Questions come directly from the reading material and therefore require the students to become familiar with the information before the class or thus greatly minimize their chance of winning.
This exercise has also shown great team building development. Students have mentioned feeling the need to study so that they do not let their teammate down. One student wanted to select the same team member that she had been paired with the prior week so that she could make up for her prior less than par performance. The camaraderie in the class is very conducive to open discussions and sharing of ideas.
At the end of the game, the questions are posted on Webct as exam review keys for the students. Utilizing this new gaming approach, the students come in touch with the material at least three times before the exam. Who says learning can’t be fun?!
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