The Gamified Classroom: Passport to Innovation

Overview: Are you feeling the weight of the "same old, same old" in your classroom? In this episode of The Gamified Classroom, host Lisa Cherivtch sits down with David Thomas—the "Professor of Fun"—to explore how play is saving higher education from burnout. From his roots as a video game critic to co-founding the Professors at Play movement, David shares why fun isn't just a "nice-to-have"—it’s fundamental to student success and faculty well-being.
Key Takeaways:
The Burnout Antidote: How bringing your playful self to class can reignite your passion for teaching.
The Pyramid of Play: A structured approach to moving from simple icebreakers to full game-based learning.
Community Over Competition: Why the "Playposium" is breaking down the traditional silos of academia.

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, address student anxiety, and create memorable learning experiences, plus simple encouragement to start small and experiment with gamified activities.

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 highlighted for instructors across disciplines, with a challenge to try one story-based activity next term to boost engagement and retention.

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 isn't just for kids. Whether you teach K-12 or higher ed, in-person or online, this episode will inspire you to bring more joy and quirkiness into your classroom.

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 learning stick.

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 serious disciplines like medicine and business. The discussion highlights the importance of storytelling in learning, as well as the upcoming events, Playposium and InnoPlay Studio, aimed at furthering the conversation around play in education. 
Innoplay: www.innoplay.co.uk
Professor Passport: www.professorpassport.com
 
Takeaways:
Teaching is not just the transfer of knowledge, but involves deeper engagement.
Play is a fundamental aspect of human experience and learning.
Community involvement is crucial to the success of educational initiatives.
Play can lower the stakes in high-pressure learning environments.
Storytelling enhances the learning experience and fosters connection.
Play is an antidote to loneliness and social disconnection.
Everyone has their own unique way of expressing play.
Curiosity drives creativity and innovation in education.
Playful pedagogy can be applied across various disciplines, including medicine and business.
The upcoming Playposium and InnoPlay Studio events aim to further explore the role of play in education.

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 growing.
From hands-on engagement to emotional support, this conversation dives into how playful learning helps students think differently, collaborate authentically, and leave with skills that matter. 
 

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, customization of learning experiences, and the challenges of modern education. The conversation highlights the need for innovative teaching approaches that resonate with today's students.

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 fun and friendly competition into your lessons, and rediscover the joy that makes teaching a winning experience.
#GamifiedClassroom #TeachingMindset #TheGamifiedClassroom #PodcastForTeachers #EducationPodcast #TeacherMotivation #EduPodcasts

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 standards while keeping lessons fresh and authentic — and why being genuine and enthusiastic makes all the difference in the classroom.
Whether you’re an educator looking for inspiration or just someone who loves seeing creativity spark curiosity, this conversation will leave you smiling — and maybe a little hungry for learning.