Games and Learning

“The value of technology for transforming learning is lost if it is only used to digitize traditional materials (e.g. scanning worksheets makes them digital, but doesn’t improve the learning experience). Instead, think about innovative approaches that allow students to engage with content differently,” EdTech Developer’s Guide (ETDG)

Before your EdTech tool makes it into the hands of an excited student, it has to pass through the teacher first; the teacher who’s looking to engage their students and inspire further exploration into lessons.

That means, when designing your app or tool, you must consider what features make your product worthy of classroom integration. As Bill Gates said, “Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids to work together, and motivating them, the teacher is most important.” Teachers, especially those reluctant to use technology in the classroom, stand by this statement.

Focus on winning over the facilitator of your game, the teacher, with these five features, and you’ll be one step closer to creating a valuable EdTech tool.

1. Skills Practice

Always put education first when designing your app or tool. Teachers will appreciate this approach because one of the most important steps for tech integration in the classroom is focusing on the basics: what tools will help my students master the skills that make up the foundation of their education?

This is also important because teachers must focus on helping students grasp these skills and concepts in order to pass them through to the next grade and prepare them for standardized testing: “Students need to demonstrate proficiency in certain academic skills in order to move from one grade to another and to graduate from high school and then from college or other training programs,” according to the ETDG.

2. Simple Implementation

Teachers don’t have a lot of time—the easier the onboarding and implementation process, the better. If teachers can learn the tool in the few days and incorporate it into a lesson with minimal technology skills, it’s more likely to be useful to them.

Consider offering a tiered implementation process, with a basic, intermediate and advanced level, each one offering different features and options. While some teachers will opt for the basic, others, who enjoy learning about educational technology, may want to challenge themselves with the top tiers.

3. Inclusion of Family

Family involvement has long been considered an important marker of academic success. “Increased parental involvement can improve attitude and behavior, including self-efficacy, classroom behavior, personal expectations, motivation and dedication to competing homework,” according to FreshGrade.com.

There are a number of tools that make family involvement easier for the teacher and student, including:

• Whooo’s Reading: Parents and other family members can become mentors, recommending books to their children and commenting on their answers to open-ended comprehension questions.
• Class Messenger: This app uses push notifications to send pictures, homework updates, volunteer forms, etc. to parents.
• SchoolRack: Teachers use this app to create a classroom blog specifically for communication with parents. With it, teachers can share grades and documents and hold private chats.

Include features such as messaging, recording and sharing so teachers and students can share work and progress with parents.

4. High-Quality Design

Remember: design isn’t as much for the teacher as it is for the student. While this aspect of your game should be sleek, and make the tool easy to navigate, it’s also an important aspect in keeping students engaged with the game, even when they’re struggling with the content, challenge or assignment.

Consider the age of the student who will be using this tool—what design style and format would appeal most to them: a social interface with simple buttons or large menu items and cute animals graphics?

5. Assessment

Data provides teachers with valuable insight on their students. The easiest way for them to get this information is through educational apps and tools that collect it automatically.

A simple, yet valuable, assessment feature is a teacher dashboard that helps them answer important questions, like: Is this working for my students? Did this student understand the assignment? Who is falling behind?

Teachers don’t use technology just because kids are asking for it. They use it to connect with parents, measure student progress, and engage struggling learners. Keep this in mind as you create gamified features for your educational tool or app.