Civics is one of the most challenging course that my seventh graders will face this year. It includes many standards and benchmarks that the students struggle to comprehend. At the end of the course, students have a high stakes state test. The goal of this grant is to make the Civics come to life and help students better understand and apply the concepts taught in the course through use of various online games and assistance with concepts. I also want my students to be great citizens and future voters. Gamification has been proven to help students learn material in a fun and engaging way. According to Karl Kapp “Games and gamification both can lead to high levels of learner engagement and motivation.”

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Civic minded Civics

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School:
Gulfview Middle 
Subject:
Social Studies 
Teacher:
Andrew Svec 
Students Impacted:
150 
Grade:
6-8 
Date:
August 4, 2023

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

 

Gary & Rosa Denning - $285.00

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Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 145

Quizizz

Quizizz is the best. This program has undergone significant, beneficial modifications. My Quizizz is available for students to use as a study tool for exams and quizzes. Additionally, teachers can create lessons that properly cover the Florida Standards for students. We can work through them together, or an individual can open it and review a topic if they'd like to go over it again. Students can catch up on Quizizz's Lessons section if they are ill or injured and have to miss school. The “Reports” part of allows me access into how my students are progressing and what material I need to review for better understanding.  I can look at individual and whole class reports to determine what each child is in need of and as a class what I need to reteach.  Over 100 teachers around the country have used my created Quizizz this year. 

Word Wall

 

Some of the most innovative and engaging resources for student learning and success are available at World Wall. My students can comprehend and demonstrate what they have learnt in a number of ways thanks to the diversity of gamified education. I may upload a reading comprehension document, remove words.  They need to fill in the missing words after reading it. This highlights the key points without requiring me to demonstrate to them. This encourages them to interact with the reading. Word Wall is where I get a lot of my "Bell Ringers" since they are short and appropriate for students. I currently rank amongst the top of this  platform's contributors. Word Wall did not, however, inform me of the number of educators utilizing my works.

  

Quizlet

 

Quizlet has had a huge transformation.  The Quizlet Live feature is one way to get my student to interact with content a unique and collaborative way.  Students must work together to solve the answers using all of the student computers to do so.  This allows for students to discuss and problem solve as a group and fosters greater understanding.  Nobody is able to allow others to do work because they all must share in the activity.  The standard use of Quizlet is still wonderful.  Vocabulary is pushed out and they can work at their own pace.  I have become a top contributor and may educators have used my Quizlets to help their students nationwide.

 

BLOOKET

 

Probably the student favorite and most gamified review tool is Blooket.  Blooket is utilized in two main ways: 1. As bell ringer for start of class and 2. For review of content before an exam.  The students love it and I set the parameters myself for who is to get a reward.  It is not about winning the game but how you preform answer the questions.  Student catch on real quick that this is not just fun but utilized for their success. 

 

Because of each of these I am able to get student achievement.  I finished Second of all Civics techers in the district for both of the District Benchmark tests.  This is a way we can see who is at mastery and who needs a boost.  Thank you for your help with my student achievement.  

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Students working.

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Students working.

 

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Students working.

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Students working.

 

Original Grant Overview

Goal

Civics is one of the most challenging course that my seventh graders will face this year. It includes many standards and benchmarks that the students struggle to comprehend. At the end of the course, students have a high stakes state test. The goal of this grant is to make the Civics come to life and help students better understand and apply the concepts taught in the course through use of various online games and assistance with concepts. I also want my students to be great citizens and future voters. Gamification has been proven to help students learn material in a fun and engaging way. According to Karl Kapp “Games and gamification both can lead to high levels of learner engagement and motivation.”  

 

What will be done with my students

What will be done with my students:

My students will interact with the created games and content. This will allow for engaging lessons and review of what has been taught in the course. These games will then be linked to Canvas pages for students to have access for homework, studying, review and even fun! It will also help with behavior management in the class by rewarding students for hard work.
The teachers and students will use this information to determine strengths and weaknesses. This will allow the me and my students to "see" areas of struggles and give them extra practice to move them to mastery.
Variety allows for greater engagement and learning. The games can be utilized as a progression and/or they may be utilized independently. These activities keep students interested in learning about our country's government and all civics-related topics.
1. Quizlet: Allows the teacher to make vocabulary and concept matching. This can be done with pictures, vocabulary, multiple choice, etc. This system interacts with other games and enables easy download and upload into other platforms. Students race and compete individually and in groups.
2. WordWall: The teacher inputs concepts, definitions, descriptions, etc. The platform creates "carnival-style" games to engage the learners. Students can have these assigned for competition or independent practice.
3. Quizizz: The teacher inputs the information or searches the system for ones already created. Students compete and have fun reviewing and applying their learning.
4. Blooket: The teacher inputs the information and the platform creates games that are very "video game-like". (I used this last year and students loved it! Lots of fun and creativity and the system allows the teacher to customize it all!) This is more of a challenge and the other games lead to this one. The suspense builds!

Students will be involved in playing the games which will result in learning and better comprehension of the material covered. Students will be more excited about coming to Civics.
 

 

Benefits to my students

Engaging students is vital to learning. Games and activities that allow for discussion, competition and fun, help to instill excitement. Students will be able to review the material in fun ways that will help them to remember and apply their understanding. At the end of the year, students will be able to easily review and recall needed information for the state test. The Progress monitoring of my students’ achievement and their weakness will allow me to tailor instruction for their benefit. Using the results, both teachers and students will be able to determine areas of strength and need. The ability to help my struggling students gain confidence not only in Civics but reading, writing and communication with others. This collaboration which has been lacking will make students better citizens and future voters.  

 

Budget Narrative

Unfortunately, both Quizizz and Wordwall has raised prices. But both are amazing.  

 

Items

# Item Cost
1 Quizizz $96.00
2 Blooket $36.00
3 Quizlet $36.00
4 WordWall $117.00
  Total: $285.00

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Special Thanks to Our Presenting Partners

Suncoast Credit Union