Empowering Student Ownership: Mike Epperson and Edna Sandoval
Mike Epperson
As we approach the end of 2020, many teachers are looking for creative ways to reinforce content students have learned. To strengthen his students’ understanding of course material, Mike Epperson, aka Mister E, knew exactly which platform to utilize—Legends of Learning. Mister E uses Legends as a resource that enables students to demonstrate mastery over various learning objectives: “I mainly use it to reinforce content we are learning and offer bonus points for 100% on LOL assessment questions.”
Keeping students engaged can be a difficult task, especially during remote learning. Despite the continued challenges brought on by the pandemic, keeping learners engaged does not need to feel unachievable. Teachers play a pivotal role in student motivation and engagement. Throughout this school year, Mister E has continually explored how he could use his students’ interests to boost learning in key areas. Recognizing how the games on the Legends platform immediately pique his students’ curiosity and enhance student understanding of challenging concepts, Mister E uses Legends of Learning as an essential tool in his course: “I have both virtual and in-person classes and use them the same. I notice [some] students [who] aren’t so studious with other assignments get LOL assignments completed.”
Thank you, Mister E, for continually finding ways to empower students.
Edna Sandoval
When introducing new topics to students, teachers know students may have little background knowledge, or a lack of interest, in the concepts. In fact, some students may question their skill set and develop a resistance to learning new content. Because of this, educators must understand how to utilize effective teaching methods that can not only lower uncertainty but also encourage students to view learning as an ongoing process. To spark a growth mindset in her students, Edna Sandoval, aka SuperScience, relies on Legends of Learning. She has found a couple of ways to use the platform to complement her course design: “I use it as a tutorial or review for my students for both at school and [remote learning].”
How might educators encourage students to feel empowered to take ownership of their learning? SuperScience has found the answer—creating a community in which healthy competition sparks learning. To carry out this task, SuperScience uses Legends of Learning to boost student performance and develop a classroom community: “As students walk into class, they are eager to log in and begin to play (learn) the topic. I see how they challenge each other to see who can complete the task first.”
We are elated to see how you are making healthy competition through game-based learning a priority in your classroom. Keep up the great work, SuperScience!
