motivation – The Educator's Quest

Gamification Core Drive 8: Avoidance & Loss

Avoidance of loss (grades) must balance with positive incentives to genuinely inspire student learning.

Gamification Core Drive 7: Unpredictability & Curiosity

Incorporating techniques like random rewards and visual elements can create excitement and enhance student participation through mystery and surprise.

Gamification Core Drive 6: Scarcity & Impatience

By implementing strategies that introduce scarcity and impatience, teachers can enhance student motivation and value in learning outcomes.

Gamification Core Drive 5: Social Influence & Relatedness

Harnessing students’ social nature can make for better learning opportunities, utilizing techniques like group quests and positive feedback. Meaningful interactions can leverage Core Drive 5 effectively in the classroom.

Gamification Core Drive 4: Ownership & Possession

In the classroom, students can be very possessive. This behavior reflects Core Drive 4: Ownership & Possession, driven by our natural possessiveness. By incorporating game design techniques that promote ownership, educators can enhance student motivation and engagement.

Gamification Core Drive 3: Empowerment of Creativity & Feedback

My elementary-age daughter loves the arts. Drawing, dancing, creating clay objects, and designing rooms in Canva. She loves doing it all, and I hope that spirit never goes away. Children have such creative minds, but when they get to me in high school, it feels like so much of their creativity has been “taught” out of them.

Gamification Core Drive 2: Development & Accomplishment

Playing challenging video games as a kid prepared me for life’s hurdles. In education, using game design techniques like boss fights and progress bars can give students that same sense of accomplishment.