Educational Conundrum of the Week – The Seductive Gold Star

Most instructors have come to the realization that participation wains at a course’s midway point and takes some time to recover. How can we minimize this drop in motivation? A colleague, I won’t mention Carl by name, said that he is motivated by badges (or “achievements” in Blackboard), both in class and online. What are some ways you motivate your in-class or online students?