Gamification

I am most interested in this weeks reading - Gamification: Using games mechanics to enhance elearning.  I tried doing this very thing with the interactive software program I created for my students, and it was not successful.  Granted, I can't begin to compete with professional software professionals, however I have to say that it was certainly visually appealing, and the music certainly made me want to tap my toe, however I noticed the most frequent adjective I noted in my observations, when my students used it was "indifferent".

I was so certain it would benefit them - I wonder if it's different for students of different levels.  These were our old foundations level students, the overwhelming majority of whom, did not pass foundations classes and eventually dropped out.  I wonder if it's beneficial only for the higher level student - and if so, then what's the point, as they do well in the traditional class anyway.

update

Well, I am finding that this semester, I am much better at keeping in touch with the people in my group.  I keep the spreadsheet of my group on my desktop, and visit their blogs at a minimum of once a week.

I have my Dashboard set to update me, each time one of them adds to their blogs, but since I've not seen a lot of activity from them, I was afraid I was missing something.  Come to find out, I wasn't, they were lagging behind.  So I've now documented when I've contacted them, reminding them to post on the blogs as well as Moodle, and so far I've only heard back from one of them.

I am getting into the hang of keeping track of them better - although I do tell them this isn't what I'm doing, but rather just checking in - and feel I'm a better facilitator and happy with the improvements I've made in the way I"m doing my job in this class.

Will check in next week, but for now, that's it.  I've not been to Moodle yet this week, but it's only Sunday, so I'll give it a few days, as well as give my group a few days and then pester them again if necessary.

Nancy

update

Well, I've not been on here a while - got caught up with work and other things.  Just wanted to comment that as I read thru Moodle, I wanted to mention, that I am finding it hard to follow everything.  I wonder if I'm the only one.  There's so many links to so much material, that I find I've gone off and am exploring and have a hard time getting back to where I was originally.  Maybe it's just me.  I think what I'll do in the future, is just follow those that I believe I'll be interested in, not necessarily all links and comments, because it's so time consuming.

Otherwise things seem to be doing fine.  My group is progressing nicely, I've emailed them and have gotten responses.  Sirpa also has been available to me, despite the fact that she's been on holiday.  We are planning a hangout next week; I just hope I can get my desktop to cooperate, as it's had issues.

All for now.
Nancy