Event report: seminar “Gamification in online teaching of foreign languages: play or not to play”

On April 16th, as a part of Colloquium+, a seminar on gamification took place.

 

Speakers on this seminar were Maria Aleksandrovna Kirsanova, Professor at the School of Foreign Languages, and Anna Alekseevna Pivovarova, Graduate of the Bachelor's Programme “Foreign languages and Intercultural Communication”, who is currently obtaining her Master’s Degree in the same field. 

Colleagues shared the definition of gamification with participants, stated its types and provided everyday examples of it: smart-watches, mobile apps, and etc. The speakers debunked a popular myth about ‘gamification’ and ‘game’ being identical terms - you don’t have to play games in order to bring gamification into your classroom. However, it is important to remember that gamification is always accompanied by a SMART-approach, which the speakers also covered during the seminar.

Maria Aleksandrovna y Anna Alekseevna have shared the most interesting facts about functions of the SMART LMS platform, which are meant to be a tool used to boost motivation of learners. We are confident that from now on professors of SOFL, HSE will be able to effectively use functions of the LMS platform (badges, quizventure, individualization of a course page/group) and won’t be limited by a narrow circle of possible standard functions (test, forums, and announcements). 

Audience shared their thoughts on the seminar.

Alexey Valentinovich Bakulev:

“The seminar is brilliant! The high-quality and vivid illustration of how gamification can be applied with the increased ‘vitaminized’ productivity within various disciplines (including cases where it seems that gamification is unnecessary) turned out to be the most valuable part of the seminar. I would like to note the high-level competence of the speakers, and, what is particularly gratifying, the presence of the graduate of our Bachelor’s programme who is also a student of our Master’s programme. Anna Pivovarova proved herself as an interested researcher and a great speaker. Their seminar duet with M.A. Kirsanova was exceptional!”

Palacheva Inga Valerievna:

“The impression of the workshop is positive, the seminar was useful and informative.”

Dashkov Mikhail Mikhailovich:

“The most valuable part of the seminar is the one where speakers shared their personal experience! This is exactly what is missing in everyday work: what else can be done during the lesson, how to diversify it, improve it? And here colleagues were able not only to find answers to these questions, but also to discover possible outcomes and how this experience can be applied during their lessons. Special thanks for highlighting the SMART LMS functions which are to make classes more versatile. I believe it was really useful for increasing the competitiveness of the SOFL professors.”

We are looking forward to the next Colloquium+ seminar and invite all colleagues to participate as speakers and listeners!