“Games are an extraordinary way to tap into your most heroic qualities.” -Jane McGonigal
Students love playing digital games and research shows that powerful learning can occur with game-based curriculums. This is why the first mission in my new book, Hacking Digital Learning Strategies: 10 Ways to Launch EdTech Missions, has students create video game walkthroughs for their peers. We can push the learning to a whole ‘nother level by getting students to design learning games for their peers. Below find free web tools and apps students can use to create simple quiz games or code more intricate games.
- TinyTap (iOS/Android)- create simple, fun games with students’ images and sound effects. Even very young learners can create and play games with TinyTap.
- Scratch MIT– students learn to code their own interactive stories, animations, and games.
- SketchNation– create adventure and action games.
- GameSalad– design games using drag and drop and learn computer science and programming.
- Gamestar Mechanic– fun, game-based quests and courses to help students learn game design and make their own video games.
- Adventure Games Studio– create adventure games with more of a storyline and colorful characters.
- Hopscotch (iOS)- design simple games by dragging blocks.
- GetKahoot (iOS/Android)- quickly create fun multimedia trivia games and compete against peers.
- Stencyl– design games without coding, but by choosing elements and characters.
- ClassTools– create simple games using templates.
- Game Maker Studio– 2D developing platform for more intricate games.
- Sploder – create retro 8-bit arcade games, flash games, physics puzzles, and 3d space adventure games.
- What2Learn– design interactive learning activities, such as hangman, quizzes, word searches, and extended writing activities.
- Kodu– create games on a PC and Xbox via a simple visual programming language.
- Quest– design text-based adventure games.
cross posted at teacherrebootcamp.com
Shelly Terrell is an education consultant, technology trainer, and author. Read more at teacherrebootcamp.com.
