How can special education students be motivated using gamification in educational technology?

Enhancing cognitive learning for SEN students through gamification is by a multifaceted approach including personalization, instant feedback and adaptive features. These elements are instrumental in addressing the unique learning needs of SEN students. Equally significant is the provision of support for their social and emotional challenges. Gamification introduces an element of fun into the learning process, which can have a profound impact on students' engagement, focus, and overall well-being. It fosters a sense of enjoyment and achievement. The tangible rewards and the opportunity for multiple attempts help SEN learners to feel valued, in control of their learning, and most importantly, negates the fear and shame associated to failure.

When thoughtfully implemented, gamification can drive participation, enjoyment, learning and productivity. Gamification applies game design elements like points, badges, leaderboards, and rewards to non-game contexts to increase engagement and motivation. It taps into people's desires for competition, achievement, status, self-expression, and altruism. Gamification makes tasks feel more fun and compelling, like a game, rather than a chore. It provides clear goals, tracks progress, and gives feedback. This enhances autonomy, mastery, and purpose. It caters to different motivations and personalities through varied mechanics. Gamification is not just about points and badges but utilizing game techniques suited for the context and users.

Especially for lower grades in Secondary School, my students love Kahoot, Blooklet and Quiziz. They become competitive and are really engaged.

Gamification can be a powerful tool for motivating special education students. The key is choosing game mechanics that align with individual students' needs and abilities. Students with ADHD may thrive with timed challenges, while those with processing issues could benefit from collecting badges for small wins. Providing immediate feedback and rewards keeps students engaged. Most importantly, the games should be simple but fun! Applying gamification thoughtfully helps special education students gain confidence and skills.

In my tenure as a teacher I found that I had to “learn” my students before I could implement any learning or educational strategies. No two Students with Special Needs are alike: within each category there are high functioning students and low functioning students; some students react differently than others when presented with an obstacle; some students won’t budge without a social story; and the list goes on. However, there are a few constants, including most students with disabilities need time to exercise, and they need a staff who really care about each and every one of them regardless of how they present to class. Teachers must build a trusting relationship with their students and their families in order for full disclosure to occur.

One project I encountered involved gamification to aid students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in learning social skills. A gamified platform presented interactive social scenarios where students earned points for successful interactions. The immediate feedback provided was crucial for these learners to grasp social cues. The outcome was promising with increased engagement and notable improvement in their social skills, both within the virtual environment and real-life classroom interactions, showcasing gamification's potential in special education.

Gamification in special education can increase student motivation and engagement by providing rewards, progression, and a sense of accomplishment. Game elements like points, badges, leaderboards, and levels give students tangible goals to work towards. This fosters interest, curiosity, and active participation. The social aspects of gamification also promote collaboration, peer learning, and community. Adaptive difficulty and multiple attempts reduce frustration. Instant feedback lets students self-monitor progress. Gamification creates a positive, motivational environment where special education students feel empowered, not isolated. Educators can use it to assess student abilities and customize learning subtly.

Whilst gamification is beneficial to almost all children’s learning, it has been specifically proven to assist students who are struggling in the classroom due to special educational needs or disabilities (SEND). The Organisation for Autism Research (OAR) believes that gamification can help the focus of children who struggle with autism, and a 2019 study found tests completed using gamified approaches reduced anxiety symptoms. I am currently working with Educational Psychologists from an LA to develop digital resources for children with SEND, and those avoiding school. We are gamifying elements of these to enable a personalised experience, better engagement and ultimately outcomes.

Gamification can support special education students by providing engaging and interactive learning experiences. It can offer personalized challenges, immediate feedback, and a sense of accomplishment, catering to diverse learning styles and abilities. Additionally, gamification can enhance motivation, foster a positive learning environment, and help develop social and cognitive skills in a more enjoyable way for special education students.

I had a lot of biology students who struggled with learning due to learning disorders. By incorporating board games and games online, many were able to feel more engaged and interested in their subject matter. It is important to remember that not every student learns the same way, and providing multiple options for student learning and success is key to creating a successful learning community.

One real example I've seen is the use of Prodigy, a platform turning math into a game-like experience for special education students. Through magical quests and battles, students solve math problems to progress, earning points and leveling up. Previously disengaged students now showed enthusiasm and improved understanding of mathematical concepts. This project highlighted how gamification, when well-implemented, can transform learning experiences, making education enjoyable and effective for special education students.

I am currently working with a Local Authority exploring the development of an app for children and young people who are avoiding school - the app would reward engagement, and would support the child to receive positive reinforcement for these engaging behaviours. The child would also be able to build their own profile, customising themself to enable adults to increase their understanding of the child.

Gamification can be a handy tool to engage students with SEN, but there is no silver bullet here. The first step is to understand students needs. We must always start with a needs based approach to reasonable adjustments within SEN delivery. By it's nature, gamification can be addictive, there must be considerations around the impact this may have on students who strive constantly to achieve within a gamification framework. Ensuring that gamification is the right fit, rather than a wholesale approach should be a consideration to all EdTech offerings.

A prime example is a gamified platform used in a special education setting to boost literacy skills. This platform, with scoring and avatars, was tailored for customization to suit varying learner abilities. The success hinged on aligning gamification with literacy objectives and allowing educators to modify gamified elements per individual needs. This initiative showcased that effective gamification should be relevant, accessible, and adaptable to both the learners' needs and the educational goals, ensuring engagement goes hand in hand with meaningful learning outcomes.

Ensuring that you align the gameplay with the needs of your students and your desired outcomes is key. For example, quiz games that reward speed can be limiting and discouraging for students with processing or reading struggles. Keep learning goals at the forefront when choosing tools and use those tools that will best support those goals while ensuring the tool is appropriate for your particular learners.

I was undiagnosed for dyslexsia and ADHD until I completed all of my education and was kicked out of school 6 times due to being 'disruptive'. This spurred me on my journey to create Econominds which uses a combination of gamification and AI to create personalised learning journeys for students. I think an adaptive approach to gamification is needed to help all students thrive, particularly students with SEN. When designing our algorithms we have taken into consideration that everyone's learning styles, interests and abilities are different even if they share the same neurodiversity. So, we use the AI to tailor that specifically to them. We have already seen an average of 18% increase in student grades after just 5 months!

Gamification in EdTech presents challenges alongside its merits. A common issue is the overshadowing of educational goals by game mechanics, which I've seen lead to a drift from learning objectives in some projects. Additionally, the varied response to gamification among learners poses a challenge; while some find it motivating, others might find it distracting or anxiety-inducing. Designing gamified experiences to cater to a diverse learner base requires a nuanced approach. Moreover, ensuring the gamification elements are inclusive and accessible, especially for special education students, demands thoughtful design and often, significant resources.

Two of my main irritations with gamification in educational technology are: 1. the lack of real challenge in the questions, which too often are multiple choice options. 2. no clear learning purposes within the game.

Many whole group games prioritize competition over learning, speed over accuracy, and surface-level learning. While games like Blooket can help students practice rote or memorization skills, often game design rewards strategy in the game over accuracy. This can be mitigated by the teacher with encouragement for personal improvement rather than classroom leaderboards. If students are not fully engaged in a game, feel they don’t have a chance to ever win, or they are frustrated with the mechanics or technical issues, the game has lost a lot of its value as a learning tool. Another limitation is moderating content in the game if community submissions are permitted. Low quality or inappropriate community content abounds in many games.

Gamification in special education can be a transformative tool, but challenges exist. Overemphasis on competition may be demoralizing to some learners, potentially harming self-esteem. Not all gamified platforms prioritize accessibility, which can exclude some students if accessibility is not considered from the outset. The diverse needs in special education mean that a one-size-fits-all approach can fall short. While game elements engage, they can also distract from learning. Continuous evaluation and improvement can help navigate these challenges.