Classcraft
Classcraft is a free online, educational role-playing game that teachers and students play together in the classroom. By using many of the conventions traditionally found in games today, students can level up, work in teams, and earn powers that have real-world consequences. Acting as a gamification layer around any existing curriculum, the game transforms the way a class is experienced throughout the school year.
Where is the tool used?
Designed by educators, its ability to support the whole child is proven to resonate with students and deliver meaningful outcomes. Classcraft is student-centred, so it's designed to generate a consistent flow of high-fidelity data that provides clear insights into student behaviour and school culture. Most importantly, it shows you what's working and what should be improved. The most effective behaviour support is preventative and data driven.
How to use the tool?
Classcraft is available via web browser and native apps for iOS and Android devices.
With Classcraft, students get an amazing combination of time-tested teaching methods with a modern approach to engagement. Classcraft is designed to resemble a game-like experience, where students earn points for their good behaviours and have unique powers, they can use to influence real life.
It helps make students feel empowered, work together, and develop soft skills while speaking a language that they understand and that matters to them.
Here's how it works:
- Each student has a character in Classcraft that represents them and their progress.
- When students meet expectations, they'll get Experience Points (and sometimes Gold Pieces).
- By earning enough Experience Points, student level up, earning rewards both in Classcraft and in real life (because their powers take effect in real life!).
Specifics for SEL contexts
Classcraft can be used for SEL training by:
- Increasing intrinsic motivation
- Spark students’ engagement.
- Improve students' behaviour.
It should be considered as an added value for SEL training, and it could easily get integrated with other SEL features.
Learning activities
- Get students immersed in their learning with customizable characters: When students first access their accounts, they'll get to select the appearance of their character.
- Incentivize and reward positive behaviours with a gamified point system: When you see positive behavior in class, you can reward it directly from your Game Dashboard
- Save time on classroom management with a streamlined interface and templates.
- Foster student collaboration and peer recognition.
- Easily turn lesson plans into personalized learning adventures.
- Seamlessly integrate class materials from Google Classroom and Canvas.
- Make formative assessments fun and effective.
- Keep students motivated and excited during class time.
- Boost engagement
Accessibility and technical specifics
Type of tool:
- Free version – premium with advanced features (customizable characters, personalized learning quests and advanced interactive class tools).
Materials needed:
- Internet
- Videocamera
- Microphone
Accessibility:
Classcraft is available via web browser and native apps for iOS and Android devices. Classcraft works as a layer over the regular classroom structure. Students will still learn all their normal lessons, but Classcraft improves how they connect with one another, the teacher, and what they’re learning.
Links to videos and instructions:
Promoting positive behavior change with the power of games: https://vimeo.com/372633649
A set of video tutorials on a Vimeo channel from basic to advanced e.g. how to use it for remote/distant learning: https://vimeo.com/classcraftgame
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