How to get students’ attention using gaming as inspiration

By Carrie Kramer

Children ages 8 to 17 spend between an hour and a half to two hours playing video games each day. This shows how deeply they can engage with an experience that pulls them in. Yet many students—who at home may devote hours to Minecraft^® or Fortnite^®—find it hard to stay focused during classroom lessons. It’s not for lack of trying. They’re growing up in a world built on interaction, instant feedback and choice, and the video games they play are designed to grab and hold attention. By borrowing principles from video games, educators can make learning feel more like play and less like work. This kind of engagement gives students ownership, choice and the opportunity to unlock deeper learning.

Why video games capture their engagement

Above all else, video games offer clear goals, immediate feedback and visible progress. Players know what they need to accomplish, are redirected when they go off course and understand where they are in their journey. These concepts translate to learning, where students are engaged in an environment in which effort is rewarded, risk-taking is encouraged and an achievable goal is within reach.

Turn tasks into quests

Frame class assignments as quests to give each lesson a clear purpose and story, which in turn can make them more exciting. For example, a writing assignment can be broken down into “levels,” like brainstorming, outlining, drafting and revising. Or a science lesson can be framed like a mission, where students collect data, test a hypothesis and report findings with their team. Much like completing a video game level, students feel more in control when assignments have a clear path. When major quests are complete, celebrate! Play music during work time and hand out school spirit tattoos.

Chart their course

Whether leveling up, reaching milestones or earning badges, students love to see progress. Bring the same ideas to the classroom without Bowser^® or Wario^® standing in the way. Use “experience points” instead of participation grades, maintain progress bars to track students’ work and award badges—like magnetic bookmarks or thumbs-up stylus pens—to recognize new skills. Seeing growth in real time can motivate students, boost confidence and make their effort feel more meaningful.

Apply friendly competition

Online games thrive on teamwork and friendly competition. This easily translates to the classroom. Small-group challenges, team-based problem-solving or even classwide competitions can engage students while maintaining a positive environment. Host “battles,” where groups tackle a tough math problem together. Or provide teams a quest, where every member has a contributing role. Track progress at the group level so everyone is encouraged to participate.

Give fast feedback

When gaming, students receive constant feedback. Teachers might not be able to tally points for every “player” in real time, but any increase in feedback can be beneficial. Quick quizzes, verbal check-ins and peer reviews can give students a sense of how they’re doing. Break large tasks into smaller steps to provide more opportunities for feedback. Reinforcement in the form of rewards and recognition can also help motivate students to work toward their goals. Mark achievements with fun spirit items, like school-branded silicone bracelets or foam claws matching your mascot, to keep up the momentum.

With gaming inspiration, everyone wins

Capturing students’ attention in our digital world doesn’t mean competing with video games—it means learning from them. By finding inspiration from gaming, including clear goals, progress tracking, friendly competition and fast feedback, teachers can transform lessons from routine tasks into motivating and engaging experiences.

Carrie Kramer

Carrie Kramer is a merchandising category manager with more than 20 years of experience in the promotional products industry and has been part of 4imprint’s merchandising team for nearly two years. She brings extensive expertise in merchandising, product sourcing, and building strong vendor relationships. Working closely with product development partners—and always thinking creatively—Carrie continually seeks out the best promotional products to strengthen her category offerings. Her expertise and creative approach help ensure 4imprint remains at the forefront of wellness-related promotional trends.

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