FUN is FUNdamental: Gamification & Creativity in Distance Learning

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TxDLA Keep Connecting: Episode 7

TxDLA Keep Connecting webinars are led by distance learning experts providing a toolbox of immediate needs to our members and the distance learning community during this time.

Note: This summary is live-blogged from the session so you can quickly scan the content. The time stamp for the video is included in parenthesis to help you get to  specific quickly.

Guest Speaker

  • Valary Oleinik, USDLA Board of Directors
    International Speaker and Educational Consultant on Gamification and Creativity

The is a Weird Time for Everybody

We need some fun! Health and educational benefits for having fun. 
 
“He who laughs most, learns best.” 
John Cleese
Fun opens people up for learning. “When it’s fun, it makes me a little more willing to give it a go.” What is fun for you: kayaking, rainbows, roller derby, entertainment, vibrant colors.
 

Nicole Lazzaro’s Four Keys of Fun

  • People Fun – social
  • Serious Fun – meaning/value
  • Hard Fun – mastery
  • Easy Fun – imagination

Limitations Foster Creativity

Dr. Suess was challenged to use the most common words to write a book for first graders learning to read. Needs to be engaging. He wrote Cat in the Hat using 236 words. 

Practice the SCAMPER Technique 

Use this technique any time you need to problem-solve or create a solution. The acronym stands for:

  • Substitude
  • Combine
  • Adapt
  • Modify 
  • Re-purpose
  • Elininate
  • Reverse
Find five minutes to have fun. #five4fun This will help you de-stress and open yourself up to new ideas. 
 

Resources and Links

The TxDLA Keep Connecting webinar series is sponsored by i2i Technologies. New episodes currently scheduled for Tuesday and Thursdays at 11:30 AM Central. 

If you need help transitioning to a simple, flexible, and dependable video communication solution, we can help. 

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