Structure and routine play an important role in a classroom. Establishing a consistent rhythm to lessons can provide students with a sense of security and predictability, which research has shown to improve learning outcomes. However, routine does not mean monotony—neither the teacher nor the students want to do the exact same thing each day. Striking a balance between structure and variety is key to keeping students engaged and invested in their learning journey.
As a teacher, I constantly challenge myself to offer a variety of activities to promote content retention and student engagement. Studies highlight that diverse teaching methods cater to different learning styles, improving outcomes for all students. This is where tools like the REACHUM Dashboard come into play, with its gamification features offering the variety that learners crave. These features allow teachers to seamlessly integrate engaging games into their lessons while addressing a wide range of educational objectives.
Today, I want to reflect on my experience with two specific REACHUM games: Tap Tap and the Memory Matching Game. Both games have transformed my classroom by providing low-stakes, engaging activities that meet the diverse needs of my students.
Gamification, the application of game elements in non-gaming contexts, has become an increasingly popular tool in modern classrooms. Its benefits are well-documented. Research shows that gamified learning activities enhance student motivation, promote active participation, and improve content retention. By incorporating elements such as leaderboards, scoring systems, and real-time feedback, gamification can make learning more dynamic and enjoyable.
One key advantage of gamification is that it allows students to learn at their own pace in a low-pressure environment. This independence is particularly beneficial for fostering intrinsic motivation, as students feel a sense of autonomy over their learning. Additionally, competitive elements like leaderboards cater to students who are motivated by achievement and recognition. Tools like REACHUM’s Tap Tap and Memory Matching Game strike a balance between these two approaches, ensuring all learners are engaged.
High level interactivity turns learners from passive watchers into active participants.
As its name suggests, REACHUM’s Tap Tap game involves students tapping a word or picture on their screen and matching it to a category or corresponding term. It’s a fast-paced, interactive activity that is simple to use but offers immense versatility for teaching different concepts.
Once students begin playing Tap Tap, their progress is automatically tracked. Answers are scored and corrected in real-time, providing immediate feedback to learners. This feedback loop is essential in helping students identify areas where they need improvement. Once all students finish, the teacher can display an answer slide for whole-class review. This feature makes it easy to transition from independent practice to group discussion, fostering collaborative learning.
I have used Tap Tap in a variety of ways. For vocabulary practice, students can match a word to its definition or sort words into categories. For example, in a lesson on ecosystems, students might match terms like “photosynthesis” with “plants” or “predator” with “animals.” Similarly, in grammar lessons, students can practice sentence structure by combining sentence fragments or matching phrases to create grammatically correct statements.
One of my favorite applications of Tap Tap is its ability to integrate cross-curricular content. For instance, during a history lesson, students can match key events with corresponding dates or historical figures. In science, they might categorize animals based on their habitats or match chemical formulas with their names. This versatility ensures Tap Tap is valuable across all subject areas, not just English or reading.
REACHUM’s Memory Matching Game has a wide variety of uses from vocabulary to state capitals.
The Memory Matching Game is another powerful tool in the REACHUM Dashboard. Like the childhood game, students flip cards to find pairs. However, this version is far more sophisticated, allowing teachers to create matches involving complex concepts.
Students are presented with a set of virtual cards, each containing a word, phrase, or image. When a correct match is made, the pair disappears. Teachers can customize the content on the cards, making this game suitable for everything from vocabulary building to conceptual reviews.
This game has proven invaluable in my classroom for reinforcing difficult concepts. For example, when teaching verb conjugation, students can match a present-tense verb to its past-tense form. In math, students can match equations to their solutions. In preparation for exams, I’ve used the game to create study sets where students match questions to answers, promoting active recall.
Memory Matching is also excellent for icebreakers and team-building activities. For instance, students can match their classmates’ names to fun facts about them, fostering a sense of community in the classroom. This adaptability makes the game suitable for both academic and social learning objectives.
One of the greatest strengths of REACHUM’s Tap Tap and Memory Matching Game is their ability to cater to diverse learning preferences. Some students thrive on independent, low-stakes practice, while others are motivated by competition and recognition. These games address both needs.
Both games provide a platform for independent learning, allowing students to work through content at their own pace. This is particularly beneficial for students who may feel overwhelmed in high-pressure environments. Research shows that low-stakes activities improve retention by reducing anxiety and creating a positive learning experience.
For students who thrive on competition, the leaderboard feature in both games is a powerful motivator. By tracking scores and speed, these games encourage learners to push themselves while fostering a healthy sense of competition.
REACHUM’s Tap Tap and Memory Matching Game offer a winning combination of structure, variety, and engagement. On one hand, these tools meet the needs of students who prefer low-pressure, independent practice. On the other hand, their gamified elements engage learners who are motivated by scores and leaderboards.
By integrating these games into my teaching, I have seen increased student participation, improved content retention, and a more vibrant classroom environment. These outcomes align with research demonstrating the benefits of gamification in education. For any teacher looking to add excitement and depth to their lessons, REACHUM’s tools are an invaluable resource.
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