tim vandenberg - "monopoly academy: winning the “game” of no child left behind through...

Academy

MONOPOLY Academy:

Winning the “Game” of No Child Left Behind through

Gamification & the World’s Most Famous Board Game

Under the Boardwalk (2010)

Why MONOPOLY Doesn’t that game take FOREVER?!?!

Myth BUSTED!MONOPOLY properly played

lasts only 60–90 min.

Why MONOPOLY? (cont.)• Uniquely popular for over 75 years (not a

fad)—over 275 MILLION sets sold, 1 BILLION players worldwide since 1935!

• More universally familiar to kids than: The Beatles, Disneyland, Star Wars, etc.

• Educational roots (ANTI-Capitalism!)

Why MONOPOLY? (cont.)• Requires Human Interaction,

Competition, Politics & Cooperation• Therefore: EMOTIONALLY involving• Kids LOVE Money!!!

Why MONOPOLY? (cont.)• HUGE Educational Benefits–Math/Probability–Economics/Business

• HUGE Social-/Life-Skills Benefits –Negotiation Skills–Interpersonal Interaction

The “Clientele”• Hesperia Unified School District• Hesperia: Highest gang per capita in

the largest county in the U. S.• Very low Socio-Economic area

The “Clientele”(cont.)• Very High % on free-lunch program• Family stability non-existent for most• “Traditional” families rare• Very High Transiency Rate• 6th Graders (10-11 yrs. old)

The Story• March 2008—Redlands, CA charity tournament:–3 mo. Preparation, Practice & Study (T. Collins)–6th grade girl beats first ever World Champion!

• November 2008—Girl vs. Reigning U.S. Champ• March 2009—U.S. Champion “Rematch”

The Story (cont.)• April 2009—U.S. Championship–1600 Online Entrants–Finals: Union Station, Washington, D.C.–2nd Place (I guess the math DOES work!)

• April 2011—High Desert Championship

Educational Results• Entire Math Class “Gamified”:– Individual, Group & Whole-Class Competition–“Win or Go Home”: Low Scores Miss Out

• Well-Performing Students participate in bonus MONOPOLY Enrichment Trainings & Practice Tournaments

Educational Results (cont.)• District Benchmarks—Record Scores• Rapidly increasing CA State Math Test scores:–2007: 10 Advanced Students…–2008: 19 Advanced Students…–2009: 27 Advanced Students…–2010: 37 Advanced Students…

Educational Results (cont.)• Several Perfect State Test Scores since – zero before 2008

• Lowest-Group Students improving to Advanced on CA State Math Test• Major Social, Life, Business-Sense &

Negotiation Skill Gains

Educational Results (cont.)• Local banker in tears: “Your kids are too fast!”• 2003 U.S. Finalist Ken Koury observed:–Very Impressive Speed & Accuracy for

11-yr.-olds.–“They make no mistakes!”

Epilogue: The Next Step inEducational Gamification

• The high-stakes NCLB system has pushed teachers & schools to their absolute limit

• Widespread, Consistent & Effective parent support is currently THE missing ingredient to student success

Epilogue (cont.)• The LAW cannot REQUIRE parent

educational support (besides attendance)• But GAMIFICATION can motivate

effective parent support• The next BILLION dollar idea in

education will make this happen!