We’re thrilled to introduce you to the latest version of Legends of Learning Awakening, our uniquely engaging learning experience!

In today’s educational environments, the learning process must be dynamic, engaging, and adaptable to meet each student’s needs. That’s why we’re constantly innovating and improving the Awakening Learning World.

Enhance teachers’ experience with Legends of Learning Awakening 7.6

Whether you’re a teacher looking for more customization options or a student ready to explore new learning pathways, this Legends of Learning Awakening update brings something for everyone.

Here’s a sneak peek at what’s new:

Teacher Avatar & Classroom Customization

For teachers, personalization has never been easier. With this update, you can fully customize your teacher avatar and virtual classroom environment. 

This new Awakening feature allows educators to reflect their unique style and preferences, creating a more immersive experience for students. Teachers can choose from a variety of avatar parts to match their real-world appearance and design their classrooms to inspire learning. 

Whether you want to preview your setup or use it as a part of the lesson, the customization options are endless in Legends of Learning Awakening!

Spanish Dialogue for NPCs (Non-playable Characters)

Inclusivity is key, and we’ve made strides toward a more bilingual learning environment. In the updated Awakening, all non-playable characters (NPCs) now have their dialogue translated into Spanish. 

This addition ensures that Spanish-speaking students can engage with the platform in their native language, fostering a more equitable learning experience.

Academy 2.0: Refreshed Theme & Visuals

The Academy has received a complete makeover! 

Academy 2.0 offers a refreshed theme and updated visuals, creating a more engaging and visually appealing learning environment. 

In addition, the update includes a Virtual Teacher Classroom, where educators can immerse themselves in a personalized virtual setting, blending traditional teaching with a modern, interactive experience.

The new design aims to captivate students’ attention while supporting teachers in delivering lessons effectively.

Learning Objectives & Standards Adaptability

One of the most exciting updates is our enhanced adaptability feature. 

Students no longer need to be restricted by grade levels. Now, they can progress through domains instead, which allows for more flexibility in their learning journey. 

If a student struggles with a specific concept, they can easily switch to another domain or revisit a prerequisite learning objective (LO) to strengthen their understanding before moving forward. 

This creates a personalized learning path tailored to each student’s needs, making their educational experience smoother and more effective.

Awakening as a Time-Limited Assignment Activity

Teachers can now take advantage of timed Awakening sessions as part of their assignments. 

This new feature allows you to add a timed session to any assignment, giving students a set period to complete activities within Awakening.

It’s a great way to introduce students to the Awakening learning experience while keeping them focused on specific learning goals within a structured timeframe.

Outdoor Academy Scene and NPCs (Non-playable characters)

We’re also excited to reveal the new Outdoor Academy scene, where students can explore a vibrant and immersive environment filled with wild beasts, hidden surprises, and NPCs that guide them to different locations. 

This new scene encourages curiosity and exploration, making the learning experience more dynamic and engaging.

Additional Fixes and Improvements

As always, we’ve made several behind-the-scenes improvements to enhance the overall performance of the platform.

Various bug fixes and updates have been implemented to ensure a smoother and more reliable user experience. From aligning teacher assignments with learning topics to resolving display issues, we’ve worked hard to make Awakening a seamless learning tool for both teachers and students.

What are you waiting for? Try Awakening now!

This new version of Awakening is more than just an update—it’s a step toward a more adaptable, inclusive, and engaging learning experience. 

Whether you’re customizing your virtual classroom, navigating through learning domains, or exploring the updated Academy, there’s something for everyone in this release. 

At Legends of Learning, we’re committed to helping educators and students thrive in a digital world, and this update is another leap in that direction.

Stay tuned for more exciting developments, and dive into the new Awakening learning experience today!

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Are you new to Legends of Learning and eager to try these games? Sign up now and embark on an educational adventure!

Have questions? Reach out to us at support@legendsoflearning.com

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Don’t miss out on our latest posts!

• Legends of Learning has Upgraded the Teacher Experience
• Key Qualities of Legends of Learning’s Adaptive Technology for Grades K-8 Math and Science
• Legends of Learning Awakening: Version 7.6 Is Here!
• Spooky Fun: New Math Games to Energize Your October
• Spooky Fun: New Science Games to Energize Your October

Hi Legendary Educators! We’re delighted to present our October collection of new math games. As usual, each addition has been thoughtfully developed to align with your curriculum goals and enhance student engagement.

Always combining rigorous academic content with immersive gameplay, these new games are powerful tools to transform your science instruction.

Ready to explore? Keep reading!

And If you missed last month’s new games, check out September’s update here.

New Math Games in October

Get ready to engage your students with exciting new adventures and hands-on learning experiences.

Grades 3-5

• Ninja Kite: The Precise Porcupine: Jump, dodge, and run! Follow your ninja path while learning how to multiply and divide within 100! 
• Aqua Multiply: Dive into an aquatic adventure and rescue all the fishes using your whole numbers multiplication skills. 

Updated Game of the Month

• Roboshipping: Fit all the robots in their respective container using your knowledge of rectangular areas.

A Closer Look at Featured Games

Ninja Kite: The Precise Porcupine — Elementary Math 

Game description

Race through an exciting 1000-meter course where multiplication powers every move!

Players join Kenzo, mastering math facts while collecting coins and unlocking special abilities.

Key Features

• Progressive multiplication challenges every 200 meters
• Special powers earned through correct answers
• Engaging gameplay with educational feedback
• A perfect blend of learning and adventure

Transform multiplication practice from a routine exercise into a thrilling challenge that students eagerly tackle again and again! Check Ninja Kite: The Precise Porcupine NOW!

Aqua Multiply – Elementary Math

Game Description

Students embark on a thrilling adventure through diverse ecosystems, from the lush rainforests to the icy Arctic.

Along the journey, they’ll encounter a variety of endangered animals trapped in poachers’ nets. To rescue these creatures, players must solve challenging multiplication problems. Check Aqua Multiply out!

Key Features:

• Engaging Gameplay: Immerse students in a captivating storyline and stunning visuals.
• Adaptive Learning: Tailored challenges to suit individual learning paces and abilities.
• Real-World Connection: Learn about endangered species and conservation efforts.

Transform math practice into an exciting adventure that sparks curiosity and fosters a love of learning.

Roboshipping – Elementary Math

Game Description:

Embark on a thrilling maritime adventure where every delivery is a puzzle!

As a cargo ship captain, you must efficiently load robot-filled containers. To succeed, players will need to master the art of calculating rectangular areas and optimizing space.

Key Features:

• Engaging Gameplay: Immerse students in a real-world scenario with captivating visuals and sound effects.
• Adaptive Learning: Tailored challenges to suit individual learning paces and abilities.
• Real-World Connection: Learn about international trade, logistics, and cargo shipping.

Transform math practice into an exciting adventure that sparks curiosity and fosters a love of learning! Try Roboshipping now!

Have you missed last month’s new games? Take a look at September’s update here! And don’t forget to keep an eye out for more exciting game updates coming your way soon.

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Are you new to Legends of Learning and eager to try these games? Sign up now and embark on an educational adventure!

Have questions? Reach out to us at support@legendsoflearning.com

---

Don’t miss out on our latest posts!

• Legends of Learning has Upgraded the Teacher Experience
• Key Qualities of Legends of Learning’s Adaptive Technology for Grades K-8 Math and Science
• Legends of Learning Awakening: Version 7.6 Is Here!
• Spooky Fun: New Math Games to Energize Your October
• Spooky Fun: New Science Games to Energize Your October

Hi Education Legends! Welcome to our October curriculum update! We’re excited to share this monthly collection of new science games, carefully crafted to support your teaching goals and boost student achievement.

Transform your science classroom with these engaging new tools!

If you missed last month’s new games, take a look at September’s update here.

New Science Games in October

Get ready to engage your students with exciting new adventures and hands-on learning experiences.

Grades 3-5

• Bloom Haven: Run your farm and follow the development cycle of plants and animals over time.
• Speed Surge: The Quest For Energy: Drive and conquer every track to learn more about speed and energy.
• Food Frenzy: Prepare yourself for a thrilling runner adventure, where you can explore new environments and interact with creatures to learn about energy flow.
• Crumbling Structure: Join this magical crew and explore the effects of weathering and erosion in various environments to learn how these natural forces shape the world!

Grades 6-8

• Laser Lab Simulator!: Beat every mini challenge to learn how reflection, absorption, and transmission of light work.
• Balance Keeper – LIFE: Take on the role of Biome Keeper, balancing flora, fauna, climate, and water. Make crucial decisions to keep the biome thriving and avoid collapse.
• Think Titans: Solar System Origins & Gravity: Join Loopy as he learns about the Solar System’s origin with the help of Professor Hoo. Together, they’ll create their mini solar system!
• Light Wave Party Pop: In this fun educational game students control a photon to learn about light and waves through colorful puzzles, making complex concepts accessible and engaging!
• Fun System: Reference Frames: Team up with our friendly characters to explore different apps while searching for a friend, learning about acceleration, velocity, and reference frames along the way!
• Planet Populators Inc.: In this game about artificial selection, manage a breeding farm on Mars to create quirky aliens by fulfilling customer requests and selecting specific traits!

October Featured Games

Bloom Haven — Elementary Science 

Game description:

Farm Life Cycles: Biology in Action

Transform your science classroom with this engaging farming simulator where students discover biology through hands-on virtual farming!

Try Bloom Haven NOW!

Key Features:

• Explore plant and animal life cycles in real time
• Witness metamorphosis and reproduction stages
• Manage farm resources and make strategic decisions
• Learn through guided, interactive tutorials

Students will:

• Master biological concepts through practical application
• Develop critical thinking skills via farm management
• Connect science curriculum to real-world scenarios

Watch as your students bloom from curious observers into confident young biologists, eagerly cultivating their understanding of life science!

Speed Surge: The Quest For Energy — Elementary Science

Game Description:

Students race into physics education with this thrilling 3D arcade game that transforms abstract energy concepts into high-octane learning adventures!

Game Scenario: On the eve of the Robo League championship, our robot hero must step in as an emergency test driver. With malfunctioning vehicles and untested courses, players become crucial troubleshooters in this physics-powered adventure!

Learning in Motion:

• Master concepts of kinetic and mechanical energy
• Experience physics principles through dynamic vehicle control
• Apply real-world physics in exciting challenges
• Test and analyze vehicle performance across 4 unique tracks

Challenges Include:

• Performing physics-based stunts
• Calculating optimal speeds for tasks
• Bowling with vehicle momentum
• Testing energy conversion in action

Educational Benefits:

• Hands-on exploration of motion concepts
• Real-time visualization of physics principles
• Engaging narrative that drives learning
• Perfect blend of entertainment and education

Turn your classroom into a physics testing ground where students eagerly race to understand energy and motion! Try Speed Surge NOW!

Laser Lab Simulator! – Middle Science

Game Description:

Illuminating Optics Through Interactive Discovery

Transform your physics curriculum with this engaging virtual laboratory where students master light and energy concepts through practical experimentation! Check Laser Lab Simulator NOW!

Key Learning Features:

• Hands-on manipulation of optical tools (lasers, filters, mirrors)
• Progressive challenges reinforce core physics concepts
• Real-time visualization of light behavior and energy transfer
• Problem-based learning through laboratory puzzles

Educational Outcomes:

• Deep understanding of light reflection and refraction
• Critical thinking through experimental design
• Scientific problem-solving in a risk-free environment
• Application of physics principles to achieve measurable goals

Perfect for middle and high school physics classes, Laser Lab Simulator turns abstract optical concepts into tangible, engaging experiments that spark scientific curiosity and foster analytical thinking.

Have you missed last month’s new games? Take a look at September’s update here! And don’t forget to keep an eye out for more exciting game updates coming your way soon.

---

Are you new to Legends of Learning and eager to try these games? Sign up now and embark on an educational adventure!

Have questions? Reach out to us at support@legendsoflearning.com

---

Don’t miss out on our latest posts!

• Legends of Learning has Upgraded the Teacher Experience
• Key Qualities of Legends of Learning’s Adaptive Technology for Grades K-8 Math and Science
• Legends of Learning Awakening: Version 7.6 Is Here!
• Spooky Fun: New Math Games to Energize Your October
• Spooky Fun: New Science Games to Energize Your October

Hi Legends! Welcome to another exciting update from our Learning Universe! This July, we’re thrilled to introduce you to the latest additions to our ever-expanding array of Math classroom games, designed to engage while enhancing your students’ test scores. If you missed last month’s new games you can take a look at June’s update here.

New Math Games in July 2024

Get ready to engage your students with exciting new adventures and hands-on learning experiences.

Games for Grades K-2

• Numera – Read and write numbers up to 1000: Help Timmy break numbers into ones, tens, and thousands and name them! 
• The Astronaut’s Garden:  You are on a mission on Mars! Solve the word problems to water and protect the space plants, and bring life to the red planet!

Grades 3-5

• Angry Birds: Space Tactics: Join our Angry Birds friends and learn fundamental geometry concepts such as points, lines, line segments, rays, and angles.

Grades 6-8

• Agrimath Crop Challenges: Learn how to read the coordinate plane (X and Y axes) while handling farm production. 

A Closer Look at Featured Games

Numera – Read and write numbers up to 1000  — Elementary Math 

Angry Birds: Space Tactics – Elementary Math

Agrimath Crop Challenges – Middle Math

Game Description:

In Agrimath: Crop Challenges the player will farm for crops and by doing so will learn how to identify each axis (X and Y) and learn to recognize values within them.

When given tasks like watering, planting seeds, and harvesting, the player will have to pay attention to which position is the correct one to do such tasks within the axis.

Have you missed last month’s new games? Take a look at May’s update here! And don’t forget to keep an eye out for more exciting game updates coming your way soon.

---

Are you new to Legends of Learning and eager to try these games? Sign up now and embark on an educational adventure!

Have questions? Reach out to us at support@legendsoflearning.com

---

Don’t miss out on our latest posts!

• Legends of Learning has Upgraded the Teacher Experience
• Key Qualities of Legends of Learning’s Adaptive Technology for Grades K-8 Math and Science
• Legends of Learning Awakening: Version 7.6 Is Here!
• Spooky Fun: New Math Games to Energize Your October
• Spooky Fun: New Science Games to Energize Your October

We live in a society that idolizes super heroes. Everyone wants to be super, and teachers are no different: They can teach super. An elementary school teacher’s impact on a child surpasses almost anyone else in their life, other than parents and close relatives.

Do you know how important you are to your students?

By sparking curiosity and interest in a subject like science, you can build the foundation for a future career and lifelong passion. But it takes more than just an attentive teacher; it requires making STEM fun and playful.

Just last December, Getting Smart magazine noted how important it is to make science a fun activity. “Implementing a STEM curriculum during the early elementary grades which combines play with direct instruction can lead to long-term interest in these subjects,” writes Tracy Derrell. Maintaining interest from elementary and through middle school requires engagement.

That’s where teaching super comes into play.

The Need for Super Teachers

The need for super teachers is real. Only 34% of 4th grade students achieved a score of “At or Above Proficient” on the science portion of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).

The United States needs its youth to take on STEM careers. The country is currently reliant on foreign workers to fulfill its STEM workforce.

So how does an educator make science fun and playful?

For starters, you can make a game of it. That goes well beyond Legends of Learning’s elementary suite of games. There are many ways to make content accessible to students.

For example, consider these eight fun resources we found to help teachers preparing science students for tests. Or find a different way to make science more interesting and applicable to students’ real lives. There are hundreds of such activities across the Internet.

When You Teach Super

Experienced teachers know success often bubbles up as singular breakthrough events that occur during the long march of a school year. Teaching can become a slog, particularly in the winter months when the days are short and the work is long.

But then there’s that student who suddenly comes alive. Or that class that really gets into a lesson. Maybe a former student comes back to visit or reaches out and thanks you for providing that spark.

Consider how these two students fell in love with science as a result of witnessing the total solar eclipse last summer. The experience infused them with a new excitement for science.

So, Legend, every day is a great day to teach super.

Let us know how we can support you.

If you are on Twitter and you like game based learning (GBL), you’re in for a treat. Starting on Monday, April 2nd at 8pm ET, we’re launching our monthly Twitter chat, #LegendaryChat!

Taking over the Twitter account that night will be Legendary ambassador Amanda Glover (she’s also on Twitter and has her own EdTech blog). Get in on the conversation simply by using the hashtag #LegendaryChat.

For the inaugural #LegendaryChat, our topic will be Intro to Game-Based Learning. This chat is ideal for educators from all over the GBL spectrum, from classroom gaming experts to interested teachers who have never used game-based learning at all.

Participants will learn:

• The benefits of bringing GBL to the classroom
• Challenges faced by teachers who use GBL, and how to overcome them
• Strategies for making GBL as effective as possible for students

In the meantime, there are tons of other education-related Twitter chats you can check out! Here are some of our favorites:

Ongoing chats:

• #scichat: Exactly what it sounds like. Chat with other educators about all things science!
• #elemchat: Anything and everything related to elementary education! This one is new for us, since we’ve just released our first few games for grades 3-5.

Weekly chats:

• #XPLAP: Stands for Explore Like a Pirate. Yep, that’s a thing. Tuesdays at 10pm ET.
• #games4ed: A Twitter chat all about gaming in education! Thursdays at 8pm ET (though we like to check out this hashtag all week long).

Do you have another Twitter chat that you love? Let us know in the comments section.

Save the date and spread the word about #LegendaryChat on Monday, April 2nd. We can’t wait to see you online! And don’t forget to follow us at @legendlearning.

By Caitlin Unterman, 8th Grade Science Teacher, Forest Middle School (VA)

Most in the education world believe that enrichment is the most important goal of a classroom. Teachers focus on creating opportunities that simultaneously enrich and engage students. However, many fail to recognize what is actually enrichment, and what is simply reinforcement.

Enrichment, by definition, is “the act of making someone wealthier.” I like to think this is wealth in the form of knowledge. Do a simple Google search and you find another definition of enrichment: “improving or enhancing the quality or value of something”.

Both definitions apply to our classrooms. And there is no better way to enhance the value of “something” than by adding what kids love best: games.

Another simple Google search can find you the EdTech definition of game-based learning: “Generally, game based learning is designed to balance subject matter with gameplay and the ability of the player to retain and apply said subject matter to the real world.”

Put enrichment and game-based learning together by definition, and you would get “Generally, game based learning is designed to balance subject matter with gameplay and the ability of the player to retain and apply said subject matter to the real world, while improving or enhancing the quality or value of education.” As an 8th grade Earth Science teacher, that sounds pretty sweet.

Importance of Enrichment in All Content Areas

Like the majority of teachers, my enrichment efforts are based on data. Strands of weakness and complex learning concepts take priority as I work to innovate and plan creative units to convey the concepts better. Try teaching radiometric dating and half-life curves to a bunch of 8th graders who were put into a High School Credit science class… That is quite a challenge.

Game-based learning has become the Aleve to my headache in that regard. Students are far more interested in their phones than any piece of paper I hand out. So, I moved towards digital learning.

Using the game-based learning platform Legends of Learning, I created a pre-test playlist on geologic time, added an assessment pack at the end, and downloaded my students’ performance data. After highlighting the weaker strands (subcategories within the topic), I made a new playlist. I taught the concepts per usual, emphasizing the weaknesses shown in the pre-test playlist data, and then launched the playlist again after my normal teaching lessons. (For an example of how to track student performance, check out the Hall of Knowledge here.)

Much to my surprise, weak strands were no longer categorized as “weak”, moreso, “improving”. Take a look at the Vanderbilt study conducted in partnership with Legends of Learning, and it speaks for itself. Weak strands can become enhanced strands through game-based learning enrichment.

How to Implement Games to Target Weak Strands

Some may think, “All of this is great, but where do I start?” Game-based enrichment isn’t something you just wake up and decide to implement one day.

Instead, consider doing some critical data analysis, at least once, before jumping right in.

The data analysis portion of the Legends of Learning platform allows you to break down each learning objective by student performance.

From this, identify the weak strands. Your definition of “weak” may differ from mine, but usually I emphasize those showing 50% mastery or below. Think about those weak strands in terms of what I call the 3 Vs: Volume, Value, Vocabulary. Let’s break those down:

Volume

On average, how much time do you spend emphasizing a strand? One day? One week? Strands that are only the focus of one day of class may not be as crucial as larger units you spend weeks on. Take out the strands that are “one-dayers”.

Value

Are the skills presented in this weak strand going to affect later learning objectives? Place an educational value on the learning objective. Is the concept crucial or supplementary?

Vocabulary

Is the learning objective heavy on vocab? If so, take a look at the overview and curriculum for each game. Find the key vocabulary needed, pack the playlist, schedule the playlist to run over the weekend as “homework,” and collect data on Monday. You should see improvement.

The key to game-based enrichment is finding the value in the innovative learning that is taking place. Don’t just plug in games that are fun and engaging. The games need to emphasize weaknesses within the content in order for enrichment to be successful.

What are your experiences with using GBL for enrichment?

A handful of game-related terms get thrown around the EdTech sphere. Two big ones are gamification and game-based learning (GBL).

But what exactly is the difference between these two? Many confuse the terms, but one is not the other.

Last Spring, just before my first day at Legends of Learning, a friend asked me what exactly we do. Ill-versed in EdTech buzzwords, I did my best to explain, and he said, “Oh, so you do gamification. We talk about it all the time in education consulting.”

To my uninitiated mind, “gamification” was a concise explanation, and I wondered why the term had never come up in previous conversations with the Legends team. It turns out, gamification isn’t what we do.

Gamification in Education: What it Looks Like

Let’s turn to our friends at Classcraft to show an example of gamified learning. I met them at ISTE 2017 in San Antonio, and they’re great — they even wrote a blog about us!

Classcraft defines the principle of gamification as “applying game principles to non-game situations.”

Basically, Classcraft is an experience, and it works like this:

Teachers deploy learning materials they’ve created—think worksheets, quizzes, and videos—as different destination points within a “Quest.”

On their side, students work through these materials to advance through the Quests at their own pace. As they complete their work, they travel across a map, from one end of an island to another.

This is a fun way to visualize progress, and it uses the principles of an adventure game to capture students’ interest while they learn. That’s gamification.

The learning itself is done through traditional classroom assignments, not a game. That would be a different story.

Understanding Game-Based Learning (GBL)

Unlike the traditional classroom assignments that persist in a gamified classroom, game-based learning is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a method to teach and use games to introduce, enforce, or enrich learning concepts.

The idea behind this method is that learning through gameplay can be more engaging than traditional methods like lectures, textbooks, and worksheets. When students engage, they’re more likely to process new information. This makes for better subject matter retention, leading to higher test scores, as demonstrated by research.

Games are often more engaging than traditional learning tools because, of course, they’re fun. But beyond this highly unscientific assertion, how does GBL achieve higher engagement from an educational theory standpoint? Game-based learning expert, Dr. James Paul Gee, attributes it partially to the principle of “Performance Before Competence.”

In his essay “Good Video Games and Good Learning,” Dr. Gee explains that students playing a game “can perform before they are competent, supported by the design of the game, the ‘smart tools’ the game offers.”

This differs from more traditional learning methods, which often require students to read a text and become competent before they can start trying to perform tasks related to the new knowledge. For many students, these methods are far less effective than the “learn by doing” approach that GBL allows.

In short, engagement is the ticket to effective learning.

Keeping that in mind, let’s look at how gamification and GBL are similar, and why so many people tend to think they’re interchangeable.

A Key Similarity

Game-based ñearning and gamification are guided by the same overarching principle: morphing a traditional classroom task into a more engaging, competitive activity.

Take for example the Interactions in Ecosystems learning objective on our site. It is home to ten mini-games, ranging in length from 5-25 minutes. Each game interweaves specific science concepts — in this case, how ecosystems work, as delineated by the NGSS — into the gameplay.

In “Deep Sea Adventure,” you start as a tiny shrimp, eating plankton and avoiding predators, ultimately growing into a fish, a jellyfish, a turtle, and a shark. In “EcoKingdoms: Interactions,” your role is park manager, making decisions to balance the flora, fauna, and finances that are crucial to the park’s operation.

Other GBL experiences feature competition amongst students. They compete with one another and motivate each other to perform at a higher level in the game. Some learning games even have leaderboards so students can compete against players all over the world.

Have you ever tried to get small children to help clean up their toys after making a mess? One effective strategy is to say “I bet I can clean up more toys than you… ready, go!” Nine times out of ten, the child will go whizzing around their bedroom trying to beat you in the new “clean-up game” you just created. That is gamification at work.

Competition is a motivator, and can make any task — whether cleaning the playroom or learning science — a lot more fun. So if GBL and gamification share this core similarity, why is the distinction so important?

Gamification alters significant structural aspects of the learning experience, breaking from the norms of lectures and worksheets. Teachers gamify their classrooms for a fresh new approach to a complex concept.

Game-based learning resources can be flexibly plugged into a traditional classroom, and interchanged for other tasks like worksheets, without altering how the classroom runs overall.

Next time you talk tech in the teacher’s lounge, see if your colleagues know the difference. Let them know you’re not playing around!

Try out Awakening, our uniquely engaging, award-winning, solution for game-based learning.

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Are you new to Legends of Learning and eager to try these games? Sign up now and embark on an educational adventure!

Have questions? Reach out to us at support@legendsoflearning.com

---

Don’t miss out on our latest posts!

• Legends of Learning has Upgraded the Teacher Experience
• Key Qualities of Legends of Learning’s Adaptive Technology for Grades K-8 Math and Science
• Legends of Learning Awakening: Version 7.6 Is Here!
• Spooky Fun: New Math Games to Energize Your October
• Spooky Fun: New Science Games to Energize Your October

We’ve made it to December, the Legendary Season of Giving! While you’re giving your students the gift of engaging science games in the classroom, there may be additional teachers out there who have yet to discover Legends of Learning. Since it is the season of giving, we decided to add to the fun and offer gifts for teachers who refer us.

Between now and December 31, when you refer other science teachers and they start using Legends of Learning*, you’ll receive the following gifts:

• 1 Referral – Gift: Dean Silencio Pez Head (Pez included!)
• 3 Referrals – Gift: LoL T-shirt & Cape set
• 5 Referrals – Gift: Two tickets to Star Wars: The Last Jedi (or a movie of your choice)
• Plus, don’t forget, you also earn 1000 coins for every referral! That’s good for 1000 science games for your students to play.

Give your colleagues the gift of game-based learning and celebrate the Legendary Season of Giving! There’s no better way to liven up a classroom at the end of the calendar year. Start making referrals today! (Not sure how? Find out in the Hall of Knowledge.)

*In order to qualify for a gift, referred teachers need to log in and launch a playlist on Legends of Learning by December 31.

This November’s STEM Visions Contest featured submissions from teachers across the country, from California to Oklahoma to Massachusetts. All of the entries demonstrated how much these legendary science teachers inspire their students on a daily basis.

The contest was an overarching STEM activity for students. Teachers launched playlists of Legends of Learning science games in class, then asked how students could see themselves pursuing a career in STEM fields. Entries were posted on Facebook (and some on Google Docs).

Students wowed us with their visions for the future. The most popular ideas for future STEM careers were in the fields of veterinary science, astronomy, marine biology, and engineering.

The Winners

With so many thoughtful, creative entries, it was difficult to select the winners. Ultimately, after much deliberation, we had a winning submission: Kimberly King from Green Fields School (Tucson, AZ)! Kimberly submitted 21 students’ STEM visions, showcasing an impressive array of ideas they have for how to impact the world in their future careers. View her entire album of submissions here.

 

For winning the contest, Kimberly will receive a $1000 grant on DonorsChoose.org, along with a full-year license for her school to use Legends of Learning!

Four more of the most impressive submissions were selected as runners-up. View their submissions by clicking the links below:

Veronica Hennessey, Simonds Elementary (San José, CA)
Joy Johnson, Lewis and Clarke Middle School (Jefferson City, MO)
Denise Galiano, Cedar Hill Preparatory School (Somerset,NJ)
Scott Beiter, Rensselaer Middle School (Rensselaer, NY)

Congratulations to our winner, Kimberly, our runners-up, Veronica, Joy, Denise, and Scott, and all of the amazing educators who entered the contest! More importantly, thank you to all of these teachers for investing in the future by inspiring their students every single day.