I'm Not Going to Play: Taking issue with Gamification

This is the first among many, I'm sure, critical reflections after my amazing time at EdCampHamilton!

One session I went to was in gamification in education. I got so upset that I forgot the guiding question! The following is my attempt to add to the conversation, in however I can.

I have a cynical love/hate relationship with gaming, and gamification. My initial hesitation to embrace came about from a healthy suspicion that anyone pushing gamification usually had a product to push. Really, I believe that I am getting to a space where some of the most valuable educational resources are free.  So I threw off gamification as the fad I was convinced it was.

Then, ironically, at a product-pitch, I came to really appreciate the ideas and motivations behind gamification. Gamers will spend hours persevering and problem solving, collaborating and working relentlessly towards a goal. In education, who wouldn't want that? Who wouldn't want a group of kids who are working their *sses off towards a goal!

Then, at the un-conference, I heard the story of a particular teacher who had gamified his entire room. Now, assignments are worth points - more depending on the difficulty. Students are rewarded badges and tokens for all sorts of things, such as attendance, etc. The cynic in me then jumped in full-force: Don't we cheapen the experience by disguising it? Why do we have to hide the learning behind codes and rewards? Why do we have to trick the students into learning by reducing our classroom environments to entertainment?

Ideally, I would love to be in a space where the learning is the true reward. I want students to engage in the learning much like they engage in their games. I want this motivation to learn to be a part of my classroom. The rewards should be the learning itself, not tokens and prizes. I see how appealing the tokens and badges are - as they are instant feedback and rewards to the student - so this suggests to me that I need to provide the same feedback and rewards for the learning. 

So, all I need is just a fundamental shift in attitudes towards all things related to school. Passion and love of learning should be synonymous with school. 

That's all.

M.