by Yu Liu & Shuhao Zhang, English Language Centre, School of Languages, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
XIPU Bird Chess is a PPT-assisted game that consists of 20 questions with the aim of helping students review class content and prepare for assessments. The target audience includes students and teachers, particularly those engaged in language teaching and learning.
Unlike some other software platforms, this PPT-assisted game allows for easy customization of content and can be tailored to specific language teaching topics and materials. Many students and teachers are already familiar with PPT, making it an accessible and user-friendly platform for them to engage with the review activity.
This activity draws its inspiration from traditional board games and incorporates Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University-related elements, such as the XIPU Bird, to create an interactive and culturally relevant experience. The XIPU Bird is an adorable cartoon bird with the logo of Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, which is beloved by teachers and students. The incorporation of the University-related elements and a culturally resonant theme, coupled with the interactive and visually appealing nature of the PPT game, aims to motivate students and teachers by providing a familiar and engaging learning experience within the University’s academic and cultural context.
This activity aims to:
- Gamify review activity
- Help students review class content in an engaging way
- Encourage teamwork
Activity length
30 minutes
Technology used
PowerPoint
Course area
EAP
Level
Intermediate
Target skill(s)
Review
Set-ups:
20 questions need to be designed and integrated into the provided PPT. These questions can include a variety of question types, such as True/False/Not Given questions, Multiple Choice Questions, and short-answer questions.
When incorporating the designed questions into the PPT, teachers can follow certain rules. For instance, the questions can be arranged according to their level of difficulty, progressing from easier to more challenging. Alternatively, they can be grouped by genres or topics which are relevant to teaching focus. It is important to note that there are no rigid rules, but the arrangement should align with the intended learning outcomes and the students’ levels.
An example PPT with sample questions incorporated (Question 1 for each team) has been provided for reference in the 'Download' section below. When adding questions, please follow the order:
- Yellow Team (Top left): Question 1-5 (Slide 3-7)
- Blue Team (Top right): Question 1-5 (Slide 8-12)
- Red Team (bottom left): Question 1-5 (Slide 13-17)
- Orange Team (bottom right): Question 1-5 (Slide 18-22)
- Bonus Question (Slide 23)
Procedure:
Step 1:
Teacher divides the class into 4 teams and assigns each team a XIPU Bird. Their steps are in different colors (i.e. yellow, blue, red, orange).
Step 2:
Teacher clicks on the step number (from 1 to 5) for each group. Each step contains one question.
Step 3:
Teams take turns to answer their question. Teacher clicks on “Answer” to show the correct answer.
Step 4:
Teacher clicks on “Back” to go back to Slide 2. If their answer is correct, teacher clicks on “Go forward”.
Step 5:
The team which reaches “Win” and answers the bonus question correctly will be the winner.
Caveats and alternatives:
Answers to some possible questions teachers might have in order to use/adapt this activity:
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Why 20 questions? Can teachers add or reduce question numbers? If so, how can they adapt the PPT?
When incorporating this game into the classroom, students will be organized into four teams, with each team receiving a set of 5 questions to answer. Based on our experience, we have found that 5 questions tends to be an ideal number for students to practice, review, and consolidate what they have been taught.
While teachers have the flexibility to adapt this PPT-assisted game to satisfy their needs, we encourage them NOT to change the number of questions included. This is because adding or reducing the number of questions may disrupt the established hyperlinks and potentially result in software malfunction.
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Any suggestions on question writing?
When writing questions, teachers can follow certain guidelines. For example, they should ensure the questions are appropriately challenging for the students’ levels. Also, it is important to provide a variety of question types to engage different learning styles and abilities and make sure these questions are clear, understandable, and relevant to the intended learning outcomes.
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XIPU Bird is XJLTU-specific. What can non-XJTLU teachers do to adapt to their teaching context?
In order to incorporate this activity into the classroom, non-XJTLU teachers may need to consider the following things:
First, customize the content to suit their specific needs and interests of the students. For instance, use other background pictures and images for 4 teams such as their universities’ logos or departments’ badges. They should right-click on the original pictures and replace them.
Second, double-check for any potential accessibility issues. For example, in order to ensure the full participation in this game, students are suggested to sit in four groups rather than in rows.
Third, seek feedback from students after the game to assess its effectiveness and make any necessary adjustments for future use.
Download:
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