Students today, especially those in elementary school, are motivated by many different things, but grades does not seem to be one of them.  You can emphasize what the grades mean and how important they are and how it affects their report card until you are blue in the face, but for some reason they don’t seem to “get it”.  So what to do?

I have observed technology class management systems such as Class Dojo and Sokikom implemented and classrooms and other point systems that seem to motivate students to want to earn as many points as they can, perhaps to achieve the incentive that a certain number of points will offer.  Many of these systems are related to behavior in the classroom.

So, if it works for improving classroom behavior, can it work for academic motivation as well?   Can we motivate students to want to achieve the best grade they are capable of by creating a points system that mirrors the current grading system that is in place?   Will students put more effort into their assignments if completing assignments will lead to them earning a certain number of points or reaching a certain level?

Educators, please share your thoughts by responding to this posting.

Thanks!

The Tech Integrator