Saturday, March 30, 2019

Gamification Delivery Systems Comparison

Image result for 3d game lab     The first gamification delivery system that I researched was 3D Game Lab (Rezzly). This platform allows students to complete quests to accumulate XP and level up. It allows collaboration through the grouping of teams and the discussion board feature. Teachers can allow students to have a ton of choice in choosing quests and completing quests at their pace or they can dictate quests in order. Different elements can unlock quests for students (XP accrual, completing certain quests, etc.). When completing quests, teachers can submit feedback after students have completed quests or send the quest submission back for adjustment. This is a great classroom organizational tool and way to measure student mastery. It provides student a gaming feel which creates an 'addictive' participation in classroom activities when using Rezzly.

Image result for classcraft     Classcraft is a program that was initially mainly geared towards classroom management, but has been enhanced to include classroom delivery and objective mastery. Students can gain or lose XP or health points based off of behavioral activities or classroom quests completed. Classcraft has a really cool presentational aspect. For example, users can defeat monsters by eliminating the monsters health points when answering questions on a review game. Students can receive punishments or rewards as a group, but there is no inherent group programs that I know of with classcraft. Student quests can be self-paced or completed in order as determined by the instructor. Students can take on different roles/characters within the game with have different strengths of powers.

Image result for breakoutedu.com     Breakout edu is a breakout/puzzle game platform for teachers and students. Teachers can create or utilize puzzle games made relating to their content and assign them to students. Students can also create 'breakouts' themselves for much higher-order thinking. Of the three, Breakout Edu is the least comprehensive as a gamification platform. Teachers can set-up classes and students can only be given access to breakouts after they have completed previous breakouts. However, there is no pure 'XP' or 'leveling up' type capabilities that other platforms offer. If assigned multiple breakouts, students can choose which breakouts to complete first.

     Conclusion: In conclusion, I wish that I could create a combination of 3D Gamelab and Classcraft. Classcraft is amazing visually and has a lot of awesome components, but I have found through experience that it is sometimes 'too much' for students in understanding what they need to do (steps for completion, what dictates increase of health points and XP, etc.). 3D Gamelab is solid visually, but doesn't compare to Classcraft in this respect. However, I believe that 3D Gamelab would be a little clearer to students. Both are solid options, but have their best qualities. I think that a teacher would do wonderfully with either with proper planning and diligent use.



3D Game Lab 
Classcraft 
Breakout EDU 
Price 
The educator membership is $12.95 per month or $34.95 per quarter (3 months) or $119.40 per year.  

The legendary educator membership (including teacher camps) is $79.95 per quarter or $245 per year.  
Basic membership is free.  

Premium membership is either $96 billed annually or $12 billed month-to-month. Premium membership includes student analytics, personalized learning quests, interactive class tools, and extra gear & pets which is not included in the basic membership. 

School and district membership – A quote must be requested from classcraft. It includes everything in basic and premium membership, but also school dashboard, school climate index, enhanced security, phone support, and custom PD support. 
Classroom kit and 1 year access code - $275 
1 year online access platform only - $75 
School-wide access code 1-25 teachers - $500 
School-wide access code 26 – 50 teachers - $1000 
School-wide access code 51 – 125 teachers - $1500 
Collaboration 
3D Game Lab has a discussion feature where students can contribute to discussion forums. Students also can participate in 3D Game Lab on teams. Lastly, teachers can gear their quests with requirements for students to collaborate with each other.  
Students can receive group rewards and group punishments. It is cool when you have every group has a specific role (healer, warrior, mage, etc.) which each has specific capabilities within the game. Partcipants can be organized into teams. Teachers can make quests into group activities themselves, but it is not inherently a part of the game.  
Students are able to collaborate by participating in breakout with each other (pulling desks together, etc.), but the platform does not have a function geared towards team quests or anything like that.  
Leveling Up 
Teachers can establish levels based on XP. As students acquire the required number of XP, they can level up to the next level.  
Students have both health points and XP. Students can gain or lose health points or XP as reward or punishment. Students receive XP and health points based on behaviorally aspects or by completing quests online.  
There is not a leveling up access, but users can create breakouts that can only be accessed when other breakouts are completed. So, there is an ‘unlock’ element there. 
Quests 
Students can participate in quests that allow for student choice and display student progress. Students submit quests to an instructor who can provide feedback if the quest is not completely fulfilled.  
Students can participate in quests on the program. Quests can be self-paced or directed by the instructor. They utilize a map in displaying these quests.  
Students participate in breakouts or content related puzzle games where they unlock locks to solve puzzles using hints.  
Pace and Direction 
Students can acquire XP through quests and make decisions on the order that they complete quests (or the teacher can predetermine quest order).  
Teachers can utilize self-paced quests or allow students to choose direction or it can be dictated by the teacher.  
Students can choose which breakouts to participate in when multiple are unlocked to them.  

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