The document describes a pilot program at Texas Wesleyan University that used gamification through a badges and points system on WordPress and Google Drive to promote and reward faculty participation in professional development activities run by the university's Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL). The program awarded badges and points for various activities like workshop attendance, blog comments, and presentations. While initial data found the system increased attendance, some faculty feedback was mixed, finding it akin to grade school or not an incentive. CETL plans to continue gathering data, adding more game elements, and increasing faculty awareness of the program.

1. GAMIFYING FACULTY DEVELOPMENT WITH WORDPRESS
AND GOOGLE DRIVE – A PILOT PROGRAM
Adeline Meira (@addymeira)
txwescetl.com/nmc-presentation
#nmc14 #GamifyFD

2. About Us
Center for Excellence in Teaching & Learning (CETL) Staff
Lisa Hammonds Nakia Pope Addy Meira Pressly Smith
Our Mission
The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at Texas Wesleyan University
(CETL) promotes a student-centered university by providing resources and
professional growth opportunities to faculty on enhancing instructional practice,
integrating technology, and promoting essential student skills.

3. Our Program
We cater to:
– 225 Faculty (110 Full-Time + 115 Part-Time)
– 223 Staff (Full-Time)
Spring & Summer 2013
– Overall Attendance = 98
Our Problem
– What else can we do to promote and reward faculty
professional development?

4. Gamification
The Theory Behind It
– On the surface
• use of game mechanics to make learning more fun
– Deeper
• engagement, overcoming challenges, accomplishment
Options
– Badges per workshop
– Badges per course
– Points + Badges
Our Brainstorming Process
– 5 team brainstorming sessions
Our Plan for Action
– Points + Badges
– Use Google Drive to keep track
– Use Wordpress to showcase

5. Our Badges
Blackboard Badge
30 points
Critical Thinking Badge
30 points
Online Learning Badge
50 points
Friend of the CETL Badge
20 points
CETL BFF Badge
50 points
Mobile Learning Badge
30 points
Flipped Classroom Badge
TBD
Innovation Badge
50 points
Teach Int’l Student Badge
15 points
Socially Engaged Badge
20 points
Trendsetter Badge
60 points
Smartboard Badge
10 points
Student Engagement Badge
30 points
Course Design Badge
30 points
Trailblazer Badge
75 points
Community Badge
35 points

6. Earning Badges
Activity Point Value Badges Possible
Workshop Attendance 5
Individual Consultation 10
CETL Blog Comment 5
Blog Post 15
Liking the CETL FB Page 2
Following CETL on Twitter 2
Having more than 50 followers on
Twitter
2
Checking in at the CETL on
Foursquare or Facebook
2
Presenting a CETL Workshop 20
Stopping by to say hi 2
*Bringing us food *10000

7. Keeping Track
Google Drive
– Storage and synchronization service provided by Google
– FREE (15GB)
– Allow for cloud storage, file sharing, collaboration
Google Drive services
– Google Docs
• Forms
• Presentations
• Spreadsheets
• Word editor
– Accessible from any mobile device

9. Displaying Badges
Wordpress
– Free blogging and CMS platform
– More than 20 million downloads
Benefits
– FREE
– Customizable themes
– Plugins
– User friendly
– Multi-user
– Mobiles
– Analytics

11. About Our Program AFTER Badges
Fall 2013
– Overall Attendance = *200
Spring 2014
– Overall Attendance = *170
Badges Earned
– Total = 156
– Showcased via Wordpress/Social Media and Stickers
*Includes workshops, individual consultations, guest speakers

12. Initial Data
# of Faculty + Staff
– 225 Faculty (110
FT+115PT) + 223 Staff
Participants
– n=28
Classification
– Staff (n=7); Full-Time
(n=18); Part-Time (n=3)
Awareness of system
– 89% Yes; 11% No
How they became aware
– 42% CETL event; 39%
CETL staff; 19% other
way
Participation
– 75% 0-5 Events
Knowledge of Points
– 30% Yes; 70% No
Understanding of point system
– Mean 3.18
Points = Motivation
– Mean 2.62
Badges = Motivation
– Mean 2.62
Leaderboard = Motivation
– Mean 2.66

13. Where Do We Go From Here?
Faculty Feedback
“I love the Badges and Points system!
Badges and Points is a motivating system
for faculty professional development.”
“Good idea, but hard to track
points and badges for evaluation.
Electronic badges might be better
than stickers.”
“Great and fun way to be
acknowledged for the work and
professional development
we're doing.”
“I don't like them; it's like we are in grade school
trying to make an external party happy. I like to think
that I attend events to improve my teaching or learn
something new to help my students. The points seem
to reward just attending and accumulation of points. I
find I am very busy and cannot attend many of the
events and the points just make me feel bad.”
“CETL is very professional and helpful
resource, but I find the badge system
akin to high school. Professional
development can be demonstrated on a
CV, not badges.”
“Not an incentive for me one way
or another. I attend CETL events
as they improve my teaching and
overall skill level.”
“Reminds me of scouts--
not interested.”

14. Where Do We Go From Here?
Other Feedback (n=16)
Do you think gamification has the
potential to improve faculty
participation in professional
development activities?
If you are responsible for creating
professional development activities, would
you consider incorporating a reward system
based on badges and points?
Yes=68.75% No=0% Perhaps=31.25% Yes=93.75% No=0% Perhaps=6.25%
“Yes, I have thought of ways to
encourage faculty to use the resources
I created, with varying success. This is
an additional possibility.”
“Yes I would consider it, but be
cautious about dedicating too
much time into it.”
“Yes, especially as our monetary
reward system looks endangered. Also,
for smaller faculty development
sessions that incur no monetary
rewards.”
“As manager of a busy Instructional Design team, I
have contemplated this for some time. We haven't
pursued it because we are unsure of the
cost/benefit. It would take considerable cycles
from a team member to implement. From your
initial survey, I can't say there are any firm
conclusions as to effectiveness, if the goal is to
improve "enrollment" in development activities.”
“Yes, but I am also concerned that it may be
seen as childish, as you pointed out.”

15. Plans for the Future
Continue Data Gathering Efforts
Additional Game Elements
Public Display of Badges
Increased Faculty Awareness

17. How To Claim Your Badge
Create an account with Cred.ly
Make sure to complete the survey from handout or at
http://txwescetl.com/nmc-presentation/
Check your email
– Click on “Save & Share”
On Credly
– Go to “My Credit,” then to “Earned,” and finally accept the badge
in your inbox.

18. References
EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative. "7 Things You Should Know About
Badges." EDUCAUSE. N.p., June 2011. Web. 6 Aug, 2013.
Kapp, K. (2012). The Gamification of Learning and Instruction:
Game-based Methods and Strategies for Training and Education.
San Francisco: Pfeiffer.
Rehak, A., & Hickey, D. (2013). “Digital Badge Design Principles for
Recognizing Learning.” Hastac.org. Humanities, Arts, Science, and
Technology Alliance and Collaboratory. Hastac.org, 20 May, 2013.
Web. 6 Aug, 2013.
http://txwescetl.com/nmc-presentation

19. Contact Us
TXWES.EDU/CETL
@TXWESCETL
CETL@TXWES.EDU
#nmc14 #GamifyFD
Addy Meira
– @addymeira