Using Content-Based Games To Engage Students: Ferleshare Starks
Ferleshare Starks
As a forward thinker on how to better support students, our Legendary Admin of the Month, Ferleshare Starks aka Sci-Fi the Science Cypher, wanted to explore how to hone in on using games which are naturally engaging to students. She identified a salient pain point for her students. She shared, “Our students were burnt out on traditional remediation for science. While they had some opportunities to engage in learning games, the format was always the same. Students were met with traditional multiple-choice questioning draped in fun music. Keeping them engaged and focused had become a struggle.” She recognizes that she needed to find a new way to engage students in curriculum and to include resources that incorporate 21st Century skills like critical thinking, collaboration and communication, especially for her struggling readers.
With the onset of hybrid learning, Sci-Fi the Science Cypher and her teachers were tasked with finding a more engaging way to motivate students to fear failure less and embrace the challenges, which we all know can be difficult. “I was at my wits end. We had nothing for science.” In their searching, they identified game-based learning as a powerful motivator. She recognized that Legends of Learning offered curriculum aligned, engaging content, real-time feedback and games that students actually want to play. After finding Legends, she told us, “Legends has been a lifesaver for virtual learning. I love the data dashboard – I can see exactly what is going on.”
Ferleshare has seen the power of using content-based games first hand using Legends. She enthusiastically shared, “Game-based learning, as featured with Legends of Learning, has had a profound impact on both my students and teachers. The kids look forward to working through the games. To watch students share and see their eagerness to share with me their adventures tells me we have identified a way to connect to our students and make them feel that success in science is achievable.”
What has also excited Ferleshare is that not only are students eager to play Legends, but teachers have become enthusiastic about incorporating it into their curriculum as well. “As for my teachers, I have seen individuals who may have been reluctant to embrace virtual learning models venturing out to find many ways to incorporate Legends and expand their use of hybrid learning models. Having teachers express excitement because students are now asking if they can do the Legends outside of class is wonderful to see.”
She told us that she instructed her teachers to assign Legends. “No more worksheets or powerpoint presentations. It is essential to get kids engaged.” She observed teachers sending in student and parent feedback showing them engaged in science at home, which she loved to hear.
Bottom line: “Legends of Learning is what we are using for science.”
Sci-Fi the Science Cypher couldn’t pick just one legendary moment, instead she stated, “It excites me anytime I go on campus, walk into a classroom, and see students immerse in a session of Legends.” Students have been so excited about Legends that she went on to share, “Some students would do it all day long if they could.” This is a great problem for any educator to have.
