Join host Aaron Beighle for a high-energy PE Huddle conversation with guest Collin Brooks that cuts through the hype and gets real about gamification that actually works. Together, they’ll unpack what gamification is (and what it isn’t), why “making it a game” isn’t the same as increasing learning, and how smart game elements like badges, quests, goal setting, and leveling up can boost engagement without turning your gym into noise.

You’ll hear how these strategies connect to what we all want more of in PE: student ownership, motivation, meaningful effort, and a class culture that supports every learner.

Interested in learning more? Read Collin’s article on Gamification!
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08924562.2021.1977749

Episode Highlights

04:31 – Build Your Own PE “Cohort” (Fight Teacher Isolation): Professional isolation is real in PE! Find like-minded educators beyond your building to stay motivated, sharpen practice, and feel less “on your own.”
07:01 – Scale Your Impact by Supporting Other Teachers: One great teacher can influence hundreds of students; helping other teachers improve can multiply your impact to thousands.
12:51 – Gamification Defined (Game Elements, Not “Just Playing Games”): Gamification is taking elements from games like badges, quests, goals, and progression and using them in a non-game setting to increase engagement.
16:55 – Gamification Is an Overlay, Not a Curriculum Replacement: It works best when layered onto a strong curriculum and sound teaching practices. It should be used to boost engagement and reinforce behaviors, not replace learning goals.
21:15 – Autonomy + Goal Setting Drives Buy-In: Let students choose appropriately challenging goals (with your guidance) so success feels earned, personal, and motivating across different ability levels.
22:36 – Reward More Than Skill: Integrity + Grit Matter: Gamification can highlight behaviors you want more of like honesty, persistence, and courage— o students “win” for character and effort, not just performance.
28:44 – Start Simple or It Collapses (KISS Principle): Overengineering makes it unmanageable fast! Begin with one small gamified element (like a badge system) and expand only after it’s running smoothly.
33:00 – Start where engagement is hardest, not everywhere: Collin recommends choosing a couple units where engagement typically drops, then layering in gamification there (instead of gamifying every unit, which makes it less special).
45:00 – Goal-setting is the engine! Teacher helps calibrate the challenge: They emphasize students setting goals, then the teacher coaching them so goals aren’t too easy or unrealistic, turning the process into a life skill, not just a PE task.
49:51 – Add Reflection + Evidence (Trophy Case / Portfolio): Have students explain, write, or record what they earned and why—creating a “trophy case” that documents learning and growth, not just participation.