Reflection: Blow up the Gradebook
Having been immersed in the quest-based learning environment as a student for the past several months, I completely agree with the power of the format. The choice and the motivation of the game-based model are truly compelling. As a grad student, a full-time teacher, a husband, and a father of two young children, I have more than enough demands on my time. And yet, I still find myself completing quests above and beyond the threshold that guaranteed me an A for the course. That says something. Even more amazing, I have just started the new school year by implementing a quest-based format in my high school chemistry classes, which include 3 sections of college prep "standard" level, and 2 sections of a lower level class formerly known as Chemistry in the Community (ChemCom). In my first 10 years of teaching chemistry at various levels, students across the board have struggled to complete homework and grades have typically been lower than I would like them to be. More importan...