Why We Do This

There’s a lot of learning and achievement that occurs as each student engages in our topics and activities, and the “Pass/Fail” that appears on transcripts simply doesn’t reflect the full breadth and depth of our class experience. Awarding points and badges for work completed provides a way to track progress and celebrate achievements that many students find to be fun.

Students do not have to keep track of their points and badges. They are awarded by the teacher, and collected in a shared document available through Google Classroom. If you don’t want to bother with this stuff at all, that’s just fine, too! Just be aware that point totals are also used to help determine your overall class standing and effort.

How it Works

There are three different types of badges and points available to students.

Class Levels

Levels recognize total points earned from both scholarship and community work. Each level has an associated badge and point level as detailed in the list of badges below.

Scholarship Work

Scholarship points and badges result from conducting independent research and posting on our class blog. Both badges are points are awarded for successful completion of this work. Scholarship Badge details can be found in the list of badges below.

Community Work

Community points and badges result from activities that we do together as a whole class. Activity point awards are shown in the chart below, and Community Badge details can be found in the list of badges below.

Level Badges

These badges represent achievement levels based upon total score (Community Points + Scholarship Points).

Settling In Nicely

Level 1

Awarded when a total score of 500 is reached

Building a Foundation

Level 2

Awarded when a total score of 1,500 is reached

Solid Citizen

Level 3

Awarded when a total score of 2,500 is reached

Community Leader

Level 4

Awarded when a total score of 3,500 is reached

Digital Titan

Level 5

Awarded when a total score of 4,500 is reached

Community Badges

Community badges can be earned through any class activities.

Above and Beyond

200 Points

Awarded for class contributions that significantly exceed requested standards

Challenge Accepted!

75 Points

Awarded for taking risks, working outside of comfort zones, and attempting to exceed personal limits

Class Leader

200 Points

Awarded for demonstrating exceptional leadership and responsibility in class

First!

100 Points

Awarded for being the first student in class to reach a milestone

Good Citizen

75 Points

Awarded for positive behavior and actions that contribute to the success, enjoyment, and well-being of others

Good Effort

75 Points

Awarded for consistently demonstrating high levels of class engagement and effort (equivalent to a '2')

Humorist

75 Points

Awarded for adding humor and fun to our class

Innovator

250 Points

Awarded for exceptional, original contributions that surpass the bounds of established course content

Outstanding Contribution

250 Points

Awarded for an outstanding contribution to class activities and/or content

Outstanding Effort

150 Points

Awarded for consistently demonstrating the highest levels of class engagement and effort (equivalent to a '1')

Special Commendation

500 Points

Awarded for exceptional, one-of-a-kind effort, risk-taking, or positive contribution

Scholarship Badges

Scholarship badges are earned through the publication of posts on our class blog.

Animator

500+ Points

Awarded for successfully publishing an animation post on our class blog

Campaigner

Variable Points

Awarded for successfully publishing a social media campaign on our class blog (and/or elsewhere)

Collaborator

Variable Points

Awarded for successfully publishing a group post on our class blog

Commentator

200+ Points

Awarded for successfully publishing a reaction or reflection post on our class blog

Creativity

75 Points

Awarded for blog contributions that incorporate exceptionally creative, original components

Explainer

300+ Points

Awarded for successfully publishing a how-to or tutorial post on our class blog

Explorer

200+ Points

Awarded for successfully publishing an exploration post on our class blog

FAQ

300+ Points

Awarded for successfully publishing an FAQ post on our class blog

Flawless Victory

100 Points

Awarded for scholarship posts submitted without any further edits required for publication

Graphic Designer

500+ Points

Awarded for successfully publishing an infographic post on our class blog

Online Scholar

300+ Points

Awarded for successfully publishing an online learning reflection post on our class blog

Podcaster

Variable Points

Awarded for successfully publishing an original audio post on our class blog

Publisher

Variable Points

Awarded for successfully publishing a special project on our class blog (and/or elsewhere)

Reviewer

300+ Points

Awarded for successfully publishing a review post on our class blog

Sequential Artist

500+ Points

Awarded for successfully publishing a webcomic on our class blog

Videographer

500+ Points

Awarded for successfully publishing an original video on our class blog

Writer

500+ Points

Awarded for successfully publishing a web article post on our class blog