Classcraft is a classroom-based RPG where pupils level up by studying

Jun 4, 2014 19:17 GMT  ·  By

Gamification of education is a new didactic approach to motivate students to learn by using videogame design and game elements in learning environments. Many argue that gamification has tremendous potential in educational contexts and can be used to deliver truly meaningful experiences to students.

Shawn Young, a high-school physics teacher at Quebec's Le Salésien High School, is one of the advocates of this innovative concept and has tried to introduce it into the classroom. For the past three years, Young has been developing and refining Classcraft – a classroom-based role-playing game designed to encourage and motivate students.

He says his RPG videogame, inspired by The World of Warcraft, allows students to view their schoolwork as an exciting adventure in which they all play an important role. Moreover, it creates a collaborative and supportive learning environment that can help turn around students who are failing, Young claims.

According to Venture Beat, the system is available to any teacher for free (until the end of the year) and its implementation is very simple. Currently, it's being used by over 7,000 children in more than 25 countries around the world, and given that it doesn't interfere with the curriculum, it can be implemented by any teacher for any subject.

The concept is very simple, especially if you are a gamer. Students first have to pick a “role” or “class” from one of three choices available: Warriors, Mages and Healers. Then, teachers form mixed groups and allow pupils to work as a team to carry on different tasks during the year.

Students have to level up their characters by studying and getting good grades, and they also have the opportunity to access real world bonuses, like being able to turn up late, gain extra time in tests or ask if an exam answer is correct.

Mr. Young explains that, at the start of each class, his students check their stats on the screen projected at the front of the room, and then a random event takes place, which could impact one or more players.

After using the system for some time, the teacher said he could tell students were more engaged and seemed to work harder, especially to not let down their team.

“Our whole system of rewards is based on individual assessments, and that’s not useful for them,” he said. “What’s useful for them is seeing the value of your team succeeding as opposed to yourself, working together to make your collective level go up.”

What's even more interesting about Classcraft is that it encompasses every aspect of a student's life. They get XP for receiving good grades, but also for doing well in sports or helping each other after school.