EducationCity, the award-winning online teaching, learning, and assessment resource, is a leading proponent of gamification, having several real-time, subject-based challenges within its PlayLive series. Within these, up to 4 players can compete against one another.
The games allow often quite repetitive drill questions to be asked in quick succession, enlivening the learning with an element of fun and urgency, to focus the mind and sharpen mental skills.
PlayLive Challenge Week
In addition to the challenges themselves, EducationCity runs an annual Challenge Week, which this year falls between 18th and 24th June and focuses on PlayLive itself.
The aim of the week is to crown the PlayLive Maths and English Champion, and two 4-month prize subscriptions will be up for grabs, as well as other goodies and certificates. Last year over 18,500 schools took part in the Maths-targeted challenge
What are the PlayLive Challenges?
The challenges are PlayLive Maths, PlayLive English, PlayLive French and PlayLive Spanish, with each supporting the subject it’s linked to:
· The PlayLive Maths offering is the most comprehensive with addition, subtraction, multiplication and division challenges, all set to the academic level within which they sit.
· PlayLive English is a word-creation game, where you get points for every word identified and bonuses for the inclusion of golden letters.
· PlayLive French and Spanish are interactive quizzes, in which students test their language and cultural knowledge against others.
· Students (and schools) can choose to compete either with other players within their class, school, or country, and are matched to children at the same academic level as themselves (or against the computer if no suitable match is available).
Many children thrive on the competitive element, but even those that don’t, enjoy the challenge of beating their own score. They’re great for use within lessons to consolidate learning, but we know many schools use them as a reward too – either to complete at the end of a set of homework or at Golden Time, because they are such fun.
How do they Benefit Schools?
EducationCity’s PlayLive Maths develops speed and accuracy of recall, as players have to answer as many questions as possible within 60 seconds with just three lives to lose. Students can choose the type of questions they are asked, making them perfect for practising and honing specific maths skills.
PlayLive English presents players with a random grid of letters, including some golden ones. Players need to score as many points as possible within the 60-second timeslot and beat their opponents’ scores. The longer the word, the more points are scored, and bonus marks are acquired by including the tricky letters coloured in gold. There are no lives to lose but incorrect guesses waste precious time. It’s great for word recognition and improves students’ spelling skills, while being a whole lot of fun.
On PlayLive French and Spanish, players need a good grasp of language and French/Spanish culture to earn as many points as possible. With three rounds per quiz and topics including leisure, animals, travel, fashion, and people, players need to answer accurately and use their ‘double-score’, ‘skip’ and ‘wildcard’ bonuses wisely. They’re fantastic for testing knowledge, and reading and listening comprehension, and allow children to hear native speakers in action.
All PlayLive challenges are great for testing knowledge. They also increase speed and accuracy of response. Many children thrive on the competitive element, but even those that don’t, enjoy the challenge of beating their own score. They’re great for use within lessons to consolidate learning, but we know many schools use them as a reward too – either to complete at the end of a set of homework or at Golden Time, because they are such fun.
Schools do not need to register to take part in Challenge Week. Playing a PlayLive challenge automatically ensures entry. Schools who currently cannot access EducationCity, can take a free trial to participate via the www.EducationCity.com website.