User:Bbkesler/sandbox

Game Elements
Duolingo mimics the structure of video games in several ways in order to engage its users. There is a reward system in which users acquire lingots, an in-game currency that can be spent on features such as character customizations or bonus levels. There are public leaderboards in which people can compete against their friends or see how they stack up against the rest of the world. The level system that Duolingo uses is XP (experience points), a numerical system that displays a user’s skill level. Badges in Duolingo represent achievements that are earned from completing specific objectives or challenges.

Classroom Uses
Teachers can have their students use Duolingo hand-in-hand with their classroom learning. Due to its addictive, game-like nature, the use of Duolingo in a classroom setting can incentivize students of all levels to want to learn the language on their own. Furthermore, its easy accessibility gives them the freedom to practice their languages at any time and place that they want. Despite its motivational aspect, however, it has been shown to have a more direct impact on the improvement of students in beginner classes than on those in intermediate and more advanced ones. One proposed reason for this is that the direct-translation method that Duolingo primarily uses is more applicable to simpler words and phrases than complex ones; simpler ones can be translated in a more exact manner from one language to another and thus are more conducive to Duolingo's direct-translation method.