gamification Archives

The EFL teachers’ collection

January 30, 2020August 19, 2015 by Blog Editor

ELTjam mostly writes about the intersection between tech and education, which means we’ve got plenty of posts of interest for teachers. Here’s a collection.

FluentU: A review by Philip Kerr

January 31, 2020January 16, 2015 by Philip Kerr

Philip Kerr takes a look at the video-based language learning platform, FluentU.

The Future of ELT

January 30, 2020April 7, 2014 by Gavin Dudeney

It was interesting to be at IATEFL this year, the annual land grab for attention larger than ever, and a conference dominated by discussions, presentations and a plenary about the future of ELT, which – it is suggested – will be completely mediated by technologies (more of this fallacy later). With Sugata Mitra selling his … Read more

Feedback Loops and ELT

January 30, 2020October 31, 2013 by Tim Gifford

‘Feedback’: it’s the unwanted shrill shriek that announces a guitar or microphone as being too close to the monitor. It’s the ear drum-splitting whinny that can stop a band in its tracks and send the audience scurrying, fully riled, to the bar. It’s also a decisive and highly effective tool for motivation and self-direction. In … Read more

ELT dips its toe into the crowdfunding pool

February 4, 2020September 2, 2013 by Nick Robinson

Back in June, Laurie wrote a piece on crowdfunding in ELT, which lamented the fact that nothing much ELT-related was happening on crowdfunding sites such as Kickstarter. Well, there’s one recently launched project that’s definitely worth a look. Atama-ii Books is the brainchild of, amongst others, Marcos Benevides, a Japan-based teacher, publisher and author. Marcos is well … Read more

Gamification With and Without the Tech

January 30, 2020June 7, 2013 by Jonathan Sayers

So, you think gamification is only for the tech savvy? You think you couldn’t incorporate it into your classroom without having all the latest tech tools? Well, think again! Here are 3 ways to gamify your classroom with and without tech.

It’s In The Game: Gamification and Language Learning Pt. 2

January 30, 2020May 31, 2013 by Tim Gifford

Following on from our part 1 post I’m taking up the question that was left hanging in the air: what does gamification really mean for language learning?

The answer, as unsatisfactory and contradictory as it may sound, is: it means what it’s always meant. ‘Good’ language teachers will always instinctively apply such concepts to engage and help their learners. The technology utilised in this approach could range from a piece of paper to a room full of iPads. The tech is the vehicle for delivering the solution, not the solution itself.

It’s In The Game: ‘Gamification’ and Language Learning Pt. 1 of 2

January 30, 2020May 24, 2013 by Tim Gifford

Interested observers of developments in the field of Edtech will undoubtedly be aware of the snowballing sexiness of the term ‘gamification’ as its advocates look at ways of transferring it from the world of business into the world of education.

What is emerging as the term gets shared and amplified is the fact that it is being interpreted differently and in increasingly erroneous ways. If the concepts and opportunities that the gamification proposition offer are to get effective traction within the education community it’s vital that teachers and learners are clear on what it actually entails (as well as what it doesn’t).

GlobalEnglish makes its play

January 30, 2020May 18, 2013 by Nick Robinson

Image by Flickr user pennstatenews. Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic

The next time you’re sat opposite that businessperson on the train engrossed in their BlackBerry or iPhone, don’t assume they’re frantically trying to get to Inbox Zero. It’s just as likely they’re trying to get to the next level of Angry Birds.

Or so GlobalEnglish might have us believe.