Looking for a New Incentive Program? Try Badges |
posted by: Ruthie | August 21, 2013, 06:39 PM |
Why try digital badges? Using digital badges accomplishes two important goals. First, they act as an incentive. The idea of earning a special reward that can be displayed encourages students to complete the task it takes to get that reward. This is why digital badges emerged early on in video games. They’re a way to keep players motivated and playing the game. Watching others earn and be rewarded with badges is a motivation as well. It can cause the student to think, “If they can do that, so can I.” Finally, they can be used to break down large assignments, like a research paper, into smaller steps with badges used to mark steps along the way.
Integrating badges into your classroom is actually relatively easy to do. It begins by sitting down and making a list of goals that you would like your students to accomplish. This list should include things that are clear and specific. For example, “be on time every day two weeks in a row” instead of “be on time on a consistent basis.” They should also be aligned to your grade and subject area, and include a mix of easy and challenging goals. You can also include more random goals that might normally be given out for extra credit.
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