How Can Teachers Use Game Show Gadgets To Motivate Students?

Ever think about turning your “regular” lesson into a game show? Fast forward to the 21^st century classroom and use game show gadgets to motivate your students to think, discuss, and make meaning of their learning.

Let’s face it. If given the choice of going to a class or playing games we know what the typical student would answer. What if class was like a game show where the teacher was the host and the students were contestants vying for the coveted prize of knowledge! Well, the answer lies in using game show gadgets like buzzers, bells or tablets. As a result, students and teachers get the best of both worlds with a tool that can transform any classroom into a game show while helping students to think, discuss, and make meaning of their learning.

Using a Buzzer

Here’s how you can use a buzzer. While teaching when you feel the lesson has gone on for too long, quickly divide the students up into groups. Once they are settled, let each group pick a buzzer (they come in all attractive colors). Then start with a quick review where the teacher asks questions, the groups confer, hit the buzzer when they think they have the correct answer, and give their response once they are called.

An excellent example is using buzzers in small group guided reading and math lessons to keep things engaging and students motivated. For guided reading, show a sight word, and students hit their buzzer when they know it or say a word, and students hit their buzzer when they come up with a rhyming word. This way guided reading turns into “Family Feud” and everyone wins! For guided math lessons, give a Math addition problem, and students hit their buzzer when they have the answer or show a number, and students hit their buzzer when they have counted out the matching amount of manipulation. Thus, guided Math turns into “Jeopardy!”, and everyone ends up having fun!

Here’s what game show gadgets can do for your students:

1. Motivate: Bring the buzzer out and students begin to really do their best, just for the chance to hit that button and hear the applause after they answer correctly. Also, use it when a student has to present something to the class. Once the child is finished presenting, he/she gets to push the button and hear the applause as a positive reinforcement. This can motivate the student to shed his inhibition of public speaking.
2. Build confidence: We all have those students who read a word and then look at the teacher immediately because they are unsure of their abilities. To encourage such students, you can simply say, “Wow! You made that word look easy. Hit that buzzer!” You will see their confidence soar when they hear the applause.
3. Challenge: The attention span of students ranges from 5 minutes in the youngest students (kindergarteners) to 20 minutes with the oldest students (high school seniors). That means, if you plan a single lecture that takes 20 minutes or longer, you’ve definitely lost the attention of your entire class. Using game show gadgets can change that.

Today, as you enter these progressive classrooms, it’s not unusual to hear students cheering for one another as they find out the correct answer after voting with their student response systems. When questions are answered wrong, this is not seen as a mistake, but rather an opportunity to learn more about the topic they are studying. Unlike game shows, however, there are no winners or losers, only learners.

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