It can sound trivial but our classes and courses are expected to become more and more attractive for the students. Thus, many of lecturers are constantly looking for a new educational tools and methods. In November last year, me (and my awesome team) employed contest as an educational method (http://24hours.edu.pl/). Students worked in 5 person teams, and had 24 hours to prepare the strategy for the convention bureau in my city. I wonder what is your experience with using competitions as an educational method. Because of my tourism background, tourism educators’ impressions are strongly expected.
http://24hours.edu.pl/
Dear Tomasz,
I used contest activities for foreign language learning several years ago, with no satisfying results, especially when used with serious tasks such as writing a report or doing an oral presentation. I found out that most of the time the students (most if not all, except the winner) feel frustrated after all the hard work they have done. However, I also found out that when the activity is for entertainment, (games, for instance) or other less serious purposes it is less stressing) Telling jokes for instance or mimicking were some of the activities in which everybody felt comfortable even though there was a winner. I would say that I probably didn´t use contest in a proper way, in the first place, but I enjoyed it for entertaining purposes since I felt the students learned and enjoyed the activities.
On the other hand, I think competitiveness may present a risk for the students if not appropriately used. That is why I find COLLABORATIVE or COOPERATIVE language teaching and learning more rewarding and less threatening.
My five cents
I think that any enjoyable activity that also results in learning can be beneficial. The contest must address learning objectives, and be something that the students perceive as fun or enjoyable.
Dear Tomasz
Please check my profile (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nikolaos_Pellas) in order to get a first view on what the future will bring to e-learning and especially the candidate platforms (see eg 3D multi-user virtual worlds).
I have 2 papers published in Computers in Human Behavior that you may found them as fundamental for your research. Please see them below:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleListURL&_method=list&_ArticleListID=-717418043&_sort=r&_st=13&view=c&md5=3c972f35394641854f1bba136065ef42&searchtype=a
With kind regards
NP
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