GameCraft LMS

[gayle_yamazaki]

I'm always interested in new ways of presenting student information and course materials. The University of Michigan has been receiving some press regarding their GradeCraft Learning Management System (LMS). According to their website, it is an LMS that is based on the idea of gamification to the course through the LMS system. GradeCraft presents the students with options of material to explore and points to be earned. The student is in charge of their online academic experience and learning for the course. There is a lot of research that supports increased student engagement and learning when the student has control over their own learning experience. GradeCraft is trying to foster that type of learning experience. Although student control is an important feature and underlying assumption, it isn't an academic free-for-all. The professor provides the materials, pathways, and structure and can even design conditional release controlled path of assignments. From the student perspective, it seems that it provides an exploratory environment which allows students to investigate what interests them. Some students report spending more time in their GradeCraft course because of the exploration option than other more traditionally delivered online education systems.

Have you heard of it or have used it? I'd love to hear your thoughts.