by John McCarthy | Aug 18, 2026 | resources
Benefits of Gamification in Education There are many ways for gamification in education. You can gamify a lesson, unit, or classroom learning environment. The key is to choose the mechanics that fit your current need. For example, using achievements to encourage...
by Guest Blogger | Jun 8, 2026 | Differentiated Instruction, Guest Posts
From Differentiation to Transformation:How a Yearlong PD Focus Reshaped Teacher Learning By Meng Li Differentiation is often framed as a classroom strategy. In reality, it is a schoolwide challenge. If we expect teachers to meet the needs of every learner, we must...
by John McCarthy | Jun 11, 2025 | Assessments, Differentiated Instruction, resources
Differentiation of instruction is needed across all types of schools. Using intentional differentiation helps ensure that schools have a system that aids sustainable progress. At the Orchard School in Indianapolis, teachers are exploring new ways to meet the needs of...
by John McCarthy | May 26, 2025 | 21st Century Skills, Esports, Gaming, Global Skills
What if every student felt a positive strong connection to their school community? Imagine a group of players competing in a computer game to successfully complete a series of complex tasks for victory. Afterwords, they reflect on how they explicitly practice skills...
by John McCarthy | Oct 21, 2024 | resources
AI Prompt Design Guides for for Educators AI Prompts can be liberating in how we design and plan alongside a thought partner. When done thoughtfully and with a strong dose of validity assessment, many opportunities open up for promoting student voice and meeting the...
by John McCarthy | Sep 5, 2024 | Differentiated Instruction, resources
Differentiating so that ALL Students Succeed by John McCarthy, Ed.S. Reprinted from OurGifted.com on 09/02/2014 I taught high school honors freshmen in English Language Arts. The students were bright go-getters who were recommended to the class based on their...
by John McCarthy | May 30, 2024 | Esports, Gaming, Global Skills
DeSports Esports Camp Design & Curriculum Workshop Quick Details June 24 – 9am to 3:30pm Location: DePaul University: Jarvis Student Innovation Center DePaul University, 1 E Jackson Blvd, Chicago (Downtown) Free Admission (includes lunch) –...
by John McCarthy | Oct 30, 2023 | resources
Esports Club Schedule and Routines I’ve designed and run esports camps in the format of what students could experience as an esports club. The distinction is on a place where students can gather and socialize while playing esports titles and growing important college...
by John McCarthy | Oct 23, 2023 | 21st Century Skills, Collaboration, Esports, Gaming, Global Skills, Pedagogy
Esports Camp Format Validated by an Evaluation Report Desports, an esports camp ran for one week for campers in grades 9-12. The camp followed a club style approach that focused on exploring computer science careers, experiencing a healthy gaming culture, and...
by John McCarthy | Aug 23, 2021 | Pedagogy
Gaming to Learn Having a positive collaborative culture in an esports program, such as clubs, intramurals, teams, camps, and courses is essential. A gamer code of conduct helps establish expectations and opens opportunities for reflection about what makes a gaming...
