Playing the Wonderful Wizard of Oz

For their 2023-24 Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honors in Action community project, the Alpha Iota Chi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society for the Two-Year College explored the study topic, The Art and Science of Play and the theme, Play It Forward, exploring how the experience of play can serve as a catalyst for epiphanies, innovations, and inventions.  They researched the problem of literacy nationally and in Tennessee, discovering that 61% of 4th graders nationally and 59% of 4th graders in Tennessee are at the basic level in reading, which indicates only partial mastery of this fundamental skill.  They asked if gamification, or serious games, might improve student engagement thus student learning outcomes in reading.  Their research indicated that gamification of education can improve student learning if it is grounded in sound learning theory.  The team researched Active Learning Theory and designed a lesson plan using this theory to gamify a reading activity by engaging third grade students participating in the YMCA After School Program at a local elementary school in a project to produce a podcast in which they perform the story of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz.  We hope you are delighted with their performance!