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Snapshot

Type of Interaction: Active Learning
Type of Course: Hybrid, Face-to-face Online

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Student motivation and engagement are ongoing challenges for instructors, especially ones who teaches solely online. It can be difficult to gauge what your learners already know and what they have questions about.

In higher education, it can be even more of a struggle. A common concern among higher education faculty is whether PowerPoint (PPT) games (or any games for that matter) accomplish what they need it to do in the classroom. Another concern is whether or not games can be considered academically rigorous enough for a university-level course.

According to multiple studies regarding games in the classroom, not only can games be academically rigorous enough, but they can also provide multiple benefits for students, regardless of what they are learning.

PPT games:

• provide structure for interactions,
• reward students for collaborating and problem solving
• promote cooperative learning
• promote individual accountability
• promote interdependence
• and fulfill the need for group processing and feedback

If you want to create a game, there are certain factors you need to consider:

1. What is the purpose of the game?
2. What level of learning do you wish to achieve?
3. What game format will you use?
   1. What are the advantages to using this format?
   2. What are the disadvantages?
4. What are your resources?
5. What materials are needed?
6. Will you assess it and if so, how?

I have built many PPT games for faculty over the years and they have always had a positive impact for the students and the instructors.

There are many sites that you can use to build the games, but some of my favorites are:

• Tekhnologic
• Lifewire: 14 Free PowerPoint Game Templates (This is actually a blog with links to PPT games and compares multiple templates of some of the most loved games such as Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune)
• Quizlet (a website made specifically for educators and learners)

Many of these games can be played as a class or solo. Don’t be afraid to experiment with games in the classroom. They can be a fun way to provide some interactivity to learners of any age!

Reference:

Ong, C. (n.d.). Stimulate student learning using PowerPoint games. Retrieved from https://cpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com