Technology has forever changed the way we interact with information. Kids today are more comfortable with touch screens than pencils and workbooks. In fact, they probably can't even remember life before computers became pervasive. This new emphasis on technology has given rise to the "gamification" of learning. For many teachers, what, how and why to implement a gamified approach is a mystery.In the first part of the session, an education technology expert will share how elementary-level teachers can leverage customizable, animated characters to provide game-like learning experiences. Using specific software such as gaming hardware, online academic game websites, Classcraft and Voki, the presenter will show different ways teachers can leverage character-driven lessons and activities to engage students and facilitate the learning process for various learning styles. In the second part of the session the teachers will be totally emerged into the topic of Gamifying the Classroom with Character Driven Technology from start to finish. The participants will be a part of a make and take session after the concepts have been introduced. This hand on approach would allow teachers the ability to interact with the three highlighted gamification strategies online. As an added bonus, the participants would be able to learn how to create a Voki and have the opportunity to brainstorm ways they could use Voki to gamify their classroom by creating a one to two slide game that they can use to kick off the school year.
