game on! motivating with badges | d2l fusion 2014

Game On!Motivating with badges using the Desire2Learn platform at Michigan State University

Emily Brozovic | Instructional and Graphic Designer, Michigan State University

THE COURSETo teach students the principles of digital career branding. The class teaches branding principles by having students discover, describe and develop potential elements of their own brands as a professional. Work focuses on creating branding tools students can use to further their career.

DETAILS‣ Fully online ‣ 15 students

‣ Summer semester (7 weeks in length)

HYPOTHESISBadges will motivate students to score more than the minimum number of points needed to gain a 4.0 for the course.

PROBLEM(s)

1. How to award badges inside Desire2Learn?

2. No existing badge platform at MSU to build from

3. Each student could earn their own combination of badges, at any point in time, and in any given order

SOLUTION(how I hacked D2L to fit our needs)

Create a group for each badge. Our naming convention was to use the badge name as the group name.

Step #1

Don’t add

students to

groups at

this stage

Step #2Create a content module called “My Badges” !

(students will see this module)

Create an HTML page for each badge available. Each page contains the following:

• Badge name • Custom badge graphic

• Badge message • Point value

Step #3

Badge name

Custom badge graphic

Badge message

Point value

This course had badges in total19

“My Badges”

module full

of badges

Set release conditions for each of the badge pages to: !

All conditions must be met !

Member of group: *name of badge group*

Step #4

As students successfully complete assignments, add the student to the applicable badge group. The badge then appears in their “My Badges” module, rewarding them with a new badge.

Step #5

OUTCOME(s)1. 11 out of 15 earned more points than were needed for a 4.0

2. Our “hacked” badge system created the desired atmosphere

3. Extremely positive student feedback

4. Inspired development of badging platform at MSU

NEXT STEPS1. Considering use of badges in other types/sizes of courses

2. Looking to conduct A/B testing on section of course with badges vs. section without

3. In early testing stages of badging platform at MSU

THANKSGrab a handout for more info and thanks for stopping by!

Emily Brozovic | Instructional and Graphic Designer, Michigan State University