Teaching can be an exciting and rewarding profession, especially when you find innovative ways to make learning fun. In a recent episode of our CERTIFIED Educator Podcast, Amy Waters, a 35-year veteran teacher, shared some valuable insights on incorporating fun into the classroom.
Give the students what they want
Amy, who has taught a range of subjects from Latin to Microsoft Office, believes that the key to engaging students is making learning enjoyable. "My students walk into my classroom every day, and ask, ‘Can we do something fun today?’” she shared. It’s a familiar refrain for many teachers.
To address this, Waters started asking her students what they considered fun and tailored her lessons accordingly. "I looked at the skills that they needed to learn and what they would be expected to know for the certification exam. I realized that I could teach them in a fun and unique way. I just had to get creative,” she explained.
Try it out
With the request for fun ever present, Amy set off to find some new ways to teach her students the Microsoft Office Specialist learning objectives. One of her students’ favorite projects was “Do you want to build a snowman?”
Working in Microsoft Word, students use shapes, text effects, and manipulated images to create their own snowman character. The students loved this project because they could make a snowman that showed their personalities and interests. "I've gotten Harry Potter snowmen, I've gotten Spider Man snowmen, and I've gotten Bart Simpson snowmen. All of them turned out great! Whatever they think is fun, cute, or funny. Just as long as they’re using the tools and learning the objectives, I’m happy," she said.
Unfortunately, not every project is as successful as Amy’s snowmen. At the start of the year, she asked her students to use Microsoft PowerPoint to create an “All about me” presentation. It was a flop. “The students didn't know each other well enough to want to share personal information. They weren’t nearly as excited as I thought they would be,” she mentioned.
The takeaway? Incorporating fun in the classroom is a trial-and-error process. Don’t be afraid to scratch what doesn’t work or test something new.
Fun and certification
When we think of fun in class, we’re typically focusing on projects or assignments throughout the semester. But the fun doesn’t need to end on testing day. Amy makes sure to keep her students excited about taking the certification exam. It’s all about hype and recognition.
Outside her classroom, Amy’s created her “Certifiably Awesome” bulletin board. Whenever a student earns a certification, she prints out their certificates and staples them on the board. This not only motivates the students to get certified, but also makes the process fun. "They want to see their certification up there. They want to get that certificate and bring it home. They want to be able to put it on their resume," she said.
Earning an industry-recognized certification is a major accomplishment. To get more participation from your students, be sure to infuse fun into the process and celebrate their incredible work.
Where to start
You’re probably thinking, “I’d love to make my classroom more fun. Where do I get new ideas?” Amy has the answer. “Ask your students and listen to what they share,” she comments. Remember to stay open to their ideas. Students have good insights and can contribute to making the learning process more enjoyable. “Sometimes you have to give up what you think is going to work and just listen to your students,” Amy teaches.
In the end, making learning fun is not only beneficial for your students but also for you as a teacher. As Waters puts it, "I show up for work because I want to be here. I do it because it's fun." Incorporating fun into the classroom can lead to more engaged students, better learning outcomes, and a more enjoyable teaching experience.
To get more ideas about fun projects to use in your classroom, listen to of the CERTIFIED Educator Podcast on Spotify.