April Leach

“The goal of this proposed project is to engage students in gamification (game-based learning) using 3D Minecraft for Education to develop and/or enhance skills in: (1) English Language Learning, (2) Social and Emotional Learning, and (3) media literacy. In this 3D Minecraft world, teams of students work together on media-based projects integrated into the weThink skills platform (https://wethinkteams.com). Fully immersed in activities, teams collaborate via voice and text communication, and share written feedback that provides additional language assessment and reporting. weThink provides each student with a digital dashboard that dynamically updates with formative evaluation feedback using a framework of fifteen social and emotional learning skills categorized into five major categories: (1) Teamwork, (2) Communication, (3) Problem-solving, (4) Leadership, (5) Character. This platform also provides assessment and commentary regarding ELL skills based on an established language skill framework. It further provides teachers with their own dashboards that help them identify skills that specific students, or teams of students, need to improve. Resources are recommended to remediate these critical skill areas. Student impact will be measured by assessments and commentaries regarding ELL skills based on an established language skill framework. Teachers are provided with their own dashboards that help them identify skills that specific students, or teams of students, need to improve. Resources are recommended to remediate these critical skill areas. After showing proof of concept with this grant, the potential impact of this seed money on our district and the number of students we serve in future years may be significant.”