Feature: Create gamified choice board by category

I create Google Workspace plugins for teachers. Plugins are found in the Extensions menu in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides to add additional functionality. I find it helpful as a teacher to start generating ideas with a spreadsheet or Google doc. If you want to create a gamified choice board, one way to do this is to start a list in a Google Sheets spreadsheet that lists the category, task, XP points, and difficulty. Create gamified choice boards by category automatically by using a feature in Add-on Roster Extras for Schoolytics.

The choice is attractive

The choice is attractive because it empowers people by giving them a sense of autonomy and control over their learning experience. When students are presented with options, they become more invested in the outcome, as they feel that their personal preferences and interests are being recognized and respected. This fosters motivation, curiosity, and a deeper connection to the topic. Additionally, the choice accommodates various learning styles and preferences, allowing students to approach assignments in a way that best suits their unique needs and strengths. By creating an environment that promotes choice, educators can facilitate a more inclusive and challenging learning experience that fosters students’ innate desire to learn and grow.

The choice is an option for gamification

Incorporating options as an element in gamified activities significantly improves the learning experience by tapping into the intrinsic motivation of the participants. By offering a variety of options and paths to achieve goals, gamification encourages exploration, experimentation, and problem solving, fostering a sense of personal agency and creative thinking. As people navigate through various challenges and make decisions based on their preferences and strategies, they become more engaged and invested in their progress. This increased level of engagement not only facilitates deeper understanding and retention of knowledge, but also promotes a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, ultimately transforming the learning process into an enjoyable and rewarding experience.

List of extras for Schoolytics is a plugin that adds additional functionality to list exports from Schoolboy. After logging in to Schoolytics as a teacher, click on the Students table next to it. This will allow you to “Generate Class List”, which is exported to a Google Sheets spreadsheet.

Since we want to make learning fun for our student roster, I’ve added this gamification feature to the options sidebar within the plugin.

Using the Extensions menu, choose “Roster Extras for Schoolytics”. This will allow you to see some of the features you can do with your Google Sheets spreadsheet. One option is the Google Slides™ Choice Board.

Option List Settings

Click the “Set Option List” button in the sidebar. This will insert a sheet with column headers for you to brainstorm your challenges. Create a category, difficulty level, Challenge Title, and how many XP the challenge is worth. Create a list with 3 recommended category options.

Create Google™ Slides

After you’ve brainstormed your list, use the sidebar again to click “Create Google Slides.”

Google Slides are created automatically

If you have popups enabled, Google Slides will automatically appear in another tab. Otherwise, check your Google Drive.

Create gamified choice board by category

A draft of your board of choice will be created, organized by category. A rectangle will be generated for each category. Below each category rectangle is a “button” that links to a slide to allow you to add the task details.

Decorate the option board

Highlight, lasso, multiple rectangles on the options board at once to set the same format. Consider using the “Theme Builder” in the View menu to modify the appearance of all the option slides at once.

Publish on the web

Since the rectangles on the first slide act as buttons for the other slides, it is recommended to use the File menu and choose “Share” and “Publish to the web”. Share the posted link with students. This allows them to click on the options board.

See this raw sample of an options spreadsheet export in the dashboard. This is an example of the initial draft that would be available for you to customize.