It’s the middle of the school year, and you’re looking for new ways to keep students engaged and on task. You’ve come to the right place!
Gamification is an interactive, point-scoring application that can be used to drive classroom management. ClassPoint has just released new gamification tools that you and your students will be obsessed with! In this post, I’ll share how to create a ClassPoint PowerPoint with gamification and ways you can use point scoring to redirect students’ attention.
In this post, I share how to use some of the new ClassPoint 2.0 features, particularly the ClassPoint gamification features. If you are looking for a step-by-step tutorial on how to use ClassPoint or a list of its interactive features, read this blog post first.
What is ClassPoint?
If you’re unfamiliar, ClassPoint is a tool for teachers that allows you to quickly create interactive PowerPoint slides. In addition to making your slide shows more fun, ClassPoint also records student responses. Then, you can use the data to inform your instruction. No matter whether you are teaching in person or in a virtual setting, ClassPoint is an easy way to increase student engagement.
Now, with some of the recent updates made to ClassPoint, you cannot only create interactive PowerPoint presentations. But, you can also use the ClassPoint tools and features for classroom management.
Create a ClassPoint PowerPoint with Gamification
You can create a ClassPoint PowerPoint with gamification in two easy steps (although one step is optional). Getting started with ClassPoint’s gamification tools only takes a few minutes.
If you are more of a visual learner, I’ve also created this step-by-step video that shows how to set up ClassPoint’s gamification features and award stars to students. Click the play button below to watch.
Step 1: Create a Class List
To use ClassPoint gamification, you must create a class list.
To create your class list:
- Click “Class List” in the top toolbar.
- Click “add new class.”
- Create a class name and a class code. If students are participating in questions and joining from their devices, they will use your unique class code to join every time. You can also add an image, although that is optional.
- Type the names of your students or upload your class list from a CSV. Students joining will log in by typing their name exactly as it appears on the class list. In other words, their name on the class list will serve as their username.
- Click “Finish.”
After clicking “Finish,” you’ll see your completed class list. There should be three columns next to the students’ names: Recently Earned, Stars, and Levels.
- Recently Earned- The first column will show the stars students have earned recently. After creating your class list, the column will be empty because students haven’t earned any stars yet.
- Stars- The second column will show the total number of stars that students have earned over time.
- Levels- The third column will show the students’ levels. Students will move up levels as they earn stars. It can be helpful to have a reward system in place for your levels to motivate participation and good behavior.
Helpful Tip: You can reset stars anytime by clicking “Reset stars” in the lower, left-hand corner. But, after you reset the stars, they are gone forever. So, it may be helpful to document the number of stars each student has before you reset. I like to tell students that we are going to track stars for a given amount of time such as a week, month, or quarter. Then, reset the stars after that given amount of time has passed.
Step 2: Change Gamification Levels
Step 2 is optional. When you create a class list in ClassPoint, the levels will already be set.
But, you can change the number of stars needed to reach a new level at any time. To reset your levels:
- Click “Settings” in the top toolbar.
- Click “Gamification.”
- Click “Edit Levels.”
- Type in the number of stars you want for each level.
- Click “Save levels.”
Helpful Tip: Have a reward system aligned with your levels to get students to buy into the gamification classroom management system.
Award Stars to Students
After you have created your class list in ClassPoint, the fun can begin!
You can add or remove stars at any time to motivate students and keep them on task. Stars can easily be awarded to students whether they are working as a class without individual devices or working independently with their own devices.
Award Stars to Students without Devices
When using ClassPoint gamification, there are two ways you can award (or remove) stars when students are not working independently on their own devices.
While your ClassPoint PowerPoint is in presentation mode, click the class code in the top, right-hand corner. This will reveal a class scoreboard. Hover over a student’s name and click the star to award stars. Click the down arrow to remove stars.
When students are working independently or at centers, I like to leave this scoreboard view open on a SMARTBoard. When I see students on task or working hard, I can quickly award stars to encourage them to keep going. If I see students off task, I can quickly subtract stars to refocus their attention.
Another way to award stars to students who are not on their own devices is by clicking “Class List” in the top toolbar, back in PowerPoint edit mode. When hovering over a student’s name, three dots will appear to the right. Click the three dots and select the option to add or remove stars. You do not have to be in presentation mode to award or remove stars in this way.
Award Stars to Students with Devices
ClassPoint is one of the best ways to create interactive PowerPoint presentations. With the gamification tools, ClassPoint PowerPoints are even more engaging as you use the star system to reward students for interacting with the presentation.
When students have their own devices, you can assign interactive questions such as multiple choice or short answer. After students have responded, you will be given the option to award stars to all students. Click the button to send stars to all of the students in the class.
Helpful Tip: If you want to see more of the interactive questions that can be used in a ClassPoint PowerPoint or information about how students log in, read this blog post OR watch this video.
More ClassPoint 2.0 Features
Gamification is not the only new feature included with ClassPoint 2.0. Many new tools have been added to make your ClassPoint PowerPoint even more interactive and engaging.
There are new tools that allow for even more interactivity with your ClassPoint PowerPoints. These new activities can be found in the top toolbar.
- Video and audio recordings- By selecting the “Audio Record” or “Video Upload”, students can add audio or video recordings to any presentation. I like this option for homework assignments.
- Draggable objects- Using the “Draggable Objects” tool will allow you to create drag and drop items within your ClassPoint PowerPoint. This tool is helpful for labeling maps and diagrams.
There are also two new tools that make it easier to call on students and look up information in presentation mode. These new interactive features are located at the bottom of the screen when in presentation mode.
- Random name picker- Select the “Name Picker” icon. This will open a wheel with all of the students’ names. Click the wheel to spin and randomly select any student.
- Embedded browser- Select the “Browser” icon. This will open a web browser within the ClassPoint presentation. Using the embedded browser prevents having to exit the presentation to look something up online.
Conclusion
While ClassPoint’s interactive features have always made PowerPoint presentations more fun and engaging, the addition of the gamification tools also makes ClassPoint a great classroom management tool.
I hope you have enjoyed learning how to create a ClassPoint PowerPoint with gamification! If you still need help with creating a class list and using the gamification features, be sure to check out this video.
At the time of writing this blog post, ClassPoint is offering a free 14-day trial of the PRO version, which includes many of the features I shared here. CLICK HERE to try PRO now!
