Gamification in the classroom with Merrell Stewart
Certified: Certiport Educator Podcast
Release Date: 08/13/2025
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info_outlineIf you’re looking for a fun and engaging way to teach your curriculum, gamification may be the answer. Merrell Stewart has been using gamification with his students for years and is sharing his advice with you.
Merrell is an 11-year veteran educator of animation, computer science, and game design in Houston, Texas. He has served more than a thousand students, specializing in the fundamentals of digital animation. His students learn composition, 2D and 3D animation, programming, game design, effective project management, and business creation.
Merrell has a master’s in education in curriculum and instruction with a specialization in educational multimedia and online teaching and learning from the University of Houston. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in arts, technology, and emerging communications from the University of Texas at Dallas. Merrell has various certifications in Adobe and Autodesk programs, and in the education and computer science fields. He has worked in the visual arts industry for over 15 years, creating medical, technical, and educational animation.
In this episode, Merrell defines gamification and shares why it’s important for his students. We talk all about game mechanics and how you use different game elements in your projects and coursework. Plus, he shares his favorite websites and apps that help him gamify his course without too much additional effort. Now, are you ready to play?
Here are some of Merrell’s favorite resources:
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If you’re looking for simulation-based activities, Merrell recommends Gimkit and Blooket.
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Ready to create a leader board to keep students competitive and engaged? Check out keepthescore.com.
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If you want students to be able to show off their success in your classroom, why not start with digital badges? Start with badge.design.
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For cooperative and competitive activities, Merrell loves using Jeopardy Labs and Factile.
Connect with educators like Merrell in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8958289/.
Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference here.