The Gamified Classroom: Passport to Innovation

This commemorative episode flips the script as Charles Stewart interviews host Lisa Cherivtch about a year and a half of the Gamified Classroom podcast. They discuss gamification in teaching, storytelling, simulations, Lego Serious Play, conferences, and real classroom examples including the game Conversely. Listeners will hear practical insights on using games and play to level the classroom, add...

Host Lisa Cherivtch explains how a simple commitment to storytelling transformed conversations at an open house and reinforced research-backed teaching practices. She shares concrete examples—from imagining historical thinkers in debates to using a recurring fictional company and story dice—to make abstract concepts vivid and memorable. Practical, low-effort strategies from "small teaching" are hi...

In this episode, Lisa shares her experience presenting "Sync or Swim" at the Instructional Technology Council conference in Austin, Texas. Fresh from SXSW EDU, she reflects on using LEGO to spark creativity and engagement—both in person and in asynchronous online learning. Discover why building a "Quirky Duck" unlocked innovative ideas, how constraints can free creativity, and why playful learning...

In this episode, Lisa Cherivtch reflects on her experience building a gamified classroom that blends storytelling, active learning, and LEGO® Serious Play®. She shares how visible thinking strategies help students move beyond passive listening and into deeper engagement. Lisa explores the balance between fun and academic rigor, explaining why intentional design, not entertainment, is what makes le...

In this engaging conversation, Lisa Cherivtch hosts Martin Koeners and Adam Lusby from the University of Exeter, who discuss the transformative power of play in education by using the art and science of design, play, and story to enable innovation. They explore how playful pedagogy fosters creativity, community, and social connections, while also addressing the challenges of integrating play into...

In this episode, host Lisa Cherivtch reflects on the transformative role of play in education and how it unlocks creativity, confidence, and connection in the classroom. Fresh from a play-focused education conference, Lisa shares practical strategies and class-tested activities—including her fan-favorite Ugly Sweater marketing project—that help students feel safe taking risks, making mistakes, and...

In this episode of the Gamified Classroom, host Lisa Cherivtch speaks with Roni Jackson, co-founder of Red Flag Mania. This educational technology platform uses true crime stories to engage students in learning. They discuss the development of the platform, its applications in various academic settings, and the importance of storytelling in education. Roni shares insights on student engagement, cu...

In this episode of The Gamified Classroom, host Lisa Cherivtch teams up with Stefy, Chief Coaching Officer at Bowie Strategy, to level up your mental fitness game! Together, they explore how teachers can reignite their passion for teaching, outsmart their “inner saboteurs,” and transform classroom challenges into power-ups for growth. Tune in for fresh strategies to reset your mindset, bring more...

In this episode, Lisa Cherivtch chats with high school science teacher Jessie Ackerman, who believes that the best learning happens when students are having fun. From turning food into science experiments to creating moments of real curiosity, Jessie shares how play and hands-on experiences help her students truly connect with the material. She also opens up about the balancing act of meeting stan...

In this episode, Lisa Cherivtch sits down with researcher and game designer Scott DeJong to explore how games can transform the classroom. They dive into the balance between meeting learning objectives and keeping students engaged, the difference between gamification and game-based learning, and why storytelling matters in education.   The conversation also touches on media literacy in the era of...

In this episode, we dive into the world of kinetic play with the innovative Flop Ball, a tool designed to foster connection and learning. Created by juggler Paul Miller and his wife Dawn Daria, a former teacher, the Flop Ball combines playful movement with analytical insights. Discover how this dynamic duo brings together the art of juggling and educational psychology to create a unique experience...

In this engaging episode of the Gamified Classroom, host Lisa Cherivtch welcomes Jim Thompson from the University of Lancashire to explore the transformative power of play in education. Discover how playful learning environments can break down barriers, foster creativity, and enhance student engagement. Jim shares insights from his experiences at the Playful Learning Conference and offers practica...

In this enlightening episode of The Gamified Classroom, we explore the extraordinary career journey of Sii Luxford-Wragg from the University of Exeter. From his beginnings as a pastry chef through his time in retail, Sii shares how these seemingly unrelated experiences shaped his innovative approach to medical education. Sii reveals his techniques for bringing playfulness into healthcare education...

In this episode, Lisa Cherivtch interviews Leslie Van Wolvelear, an accounting professor who specializes in gamification in education. They discuss the importance of engaging students through fun and interactive activities, both in face-to-face and online learning environments. Leslie shares her journey into gamification, her experiences with creating escape rooms and quests, and the impact of the...

In this episode of the Gamified Classroom, host Lisa Cherivtch interviews Jimi Dennison from Fun in Motion Toys. They discuss the journey of the company, starting from its origins with Spinballs to the introduction of the Shishibo, a transformative toy that has gained popularity. The conversation explores the company's recent focus on the educational space, emphasizing the importance of play in le...

Level up your teaching! This episode of the Gamified Classroom features a fascinating conversation between host Lisa Cherivtch and psychology professor Tony Surdo exploring the psychology of gamification. They unpack the benefits and challenges of using game elements in education, offering insights into engaging students through both competition and collaboration. Tune in for key takeaways on fost...

Episode Summary: In this episode, we delve into the innovative world of SuperBetter, an app that leverages the psychology of gameplay to enhance mental health and resilience. Join us as we speak with Keith Wakeman, CEO of SuperBetter, about how this unique platform is helping individuals navigate life's challenges by transforming them into engaging quests. We explore the science behind "gameful li...

In this episode of The Gamified Classroom, we explore the exciting intersection of technology and education with Xavier Moretti, the visionary behind Teach with Koala. Xavier's journey is fascinating, transitioning from a tech-driven career at Apple to pioneering an innovative edtech platform revolutionizing online learning. We explore how Xavier and his team leverage gamification to create engagi...

In this episode of the Gamified Classroom, host Lisa Cherivtch interviews Dan Facchini, Managing Director of Innovation DuPage, a business incubator and accelerator. They discuss the importance of fun in learning, the role of Innovation DuPage in supporting entrepreneurs, and how it differentiates itself from traditional business development centers. The conversation highlights the significance of...

In this episode of The Gamified Classroom, I speak with game designer Joe Barron about the untapped potential of games in education. We discuss how his games, while not explicitly designed for the classroom, can foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration. 

Welcome to The Gamified Classroom, where we dive into the innovative world of gamification in education. In this episode, join our host, Lisa Cherivtch, as she engages with Federico Chialvo, the visionary behind Joyful Mathematics. Discover how Federico's journey of personal challenges and inspirations led to the creation of games designed to make learning math an enjoyable and stress-free experie...

Welcome to The Gamified Classroom, where host Lisa Cherivtch explores the world of gamification in education with guest Andrew Davies. In this episode, they delve into the innovative use of AI to enhance student engagement, drawing insights from Andrew's keynote presentation at the Teach, Play, Learn conference. Andrew shares his transformative journey of using AI tools to create captivating video...

In this episode of the Gamified Classroom, host Lisa Cherivtch explores the transformative impact of traditional hands-on activities to boost student engagement. Dive into the world of gamification as Lisa shares her experiences from a retail simulation game, where students design their own retail spaces with just construction paper and creativity, demonstrating the power of simplicity in learning...

Welcome to the inaugural episode of the Gamification Podcast. Today, host Lisa is joined by Charles Stewart, a language arts teacher who has pioneered the use of games in his classroom to captivate and engage his young students. In this episode, Charles discusses his journey into gamification, sharing insights from nearly a decade of experience in transforming traditional lessons into interactive...