Mitchel Resnick

Abstract

Will badges always, necessarily be perceived as rewards? Will they always, necessarily crowd out other sources of motivation, undermining opportunities for learners to develop sustained engagement with the underlying ideas and activities? Perhaps not. But, at a minimum, I think it’s critical for badge designers to think carefully about the motivational consequences (sometimes unintended) of their badges, and to take steps to reduce the likelihood that their badges will become the central focus of motivation.