Reinventing the Classroom

A science teacher at a junior high school in Alberta recently found his way to the stage of a TEDx event. His purpose for being there is a subject that seems to have slipped through the cracks for far too long.

After seeing that traditional ways of teaching were not effective with his students, Scott Hebert used his imagination and talent to create an entirely new world for them. He reinvented his classroom and created an environment that would engage his students and make an impact on the way they view the idea of learning.

Hebert created a year long game that teaches science in an entirely new way. While students in other classrooms are using basic study techniques, the science students of this Canadian Catholic school are learning and retaining information to fight epic battles and explore far off lands. He not only engages his students but teaches them that learning does not always have to be monotonous and burdening.

In the present digital era it is becoming harder to hold a person's attention span. Research shows that students zone out every few minutes during a traditional lecture class, but they interact and learn more during interactive classes. A study at University of California Irvine shows that tablets increase the studying and class involvement of college and high school students from 63-66%.

Our world is constantly evolving. The fundamental knowledge that is being taught in our schools is being revised almost yearly, as our understanding of the world around us is expanding. So, why are we not focused on improving the way our youth learn? Why do our classrooms still function the way they did centuries ago? Luckily, there are individuals who are willing to challenge tradition.

Scott Hebert's teaching techniques will stay with his students well beyond his classroom. It allows them to view each learning opportunity as something memorable and exciting. He has has started a GoFundMe to create a program that will help other teachers bring the same modernized learning environment to their own classrooms.

More can be learned about Scott Hebert at http://www.mrhebert.com

His efforts can be supported here: http://www.gofundme.com/gamification-in-education-resources

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