Rewarding learners’ online classroom recitations: The use of star effort points as digital badge system
Published 2025-12-31
How to Cite
Abstract
This action research investigated the impact of a Digital Badge System (DBS) as an incentive mechanism to enhance oral recitation engagement among Grade 8 students in an English language classroom. The intervention was implemented in response to observed low student motivation to participate in oral recitations, identified through classroom observations and interviews. The study aimed to improve oral recitation engagement by employing the DBS, with specific objectives to: (1) assess students’ engagement levels based on self-reported and cooperating teacher assessments; (2) compare engagement levels before and after the intervention; and (3) evaluate the perceptions of both students and the teacher regarding the DBS. A mixed-methods approach was utilized, incorporating quantitative data collected via surveys and qualitative data from open-ended questionnaires. Data analysis included descriptive and inferential statistics alongside thematic analysis. Results demonstrated a statistically significant increase in oral recitation engagement following the implementation of DBS. Additionally, findings indicate that DBS contributed to increased student motivation, self-confidence, competitiveness, and a sense of reward. The study recommends adapting the DBS framework to suit diverse educational contexts and subject areas within basic education.
References
- Adnan, M. (2020). Online learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic: Students perspectives. Journal of Pedagogical Sociology and Psychology, 1(2), 45–51. https://doi.org/10.33902/jpsp.2020261309
- Aziz, F., Quraishi, U., & Kazi, A. S. (2018). Factors behind Classroom Participation of Secondary School Students (A Gender Based Analysis). Universal Journal of Educational Research, 6(2), 211–217. https://doi.org/10.13189/ujer.2018.060201
- Basar, Z. M., Mansor, A. N., Jamaludin, K. A., Alias, B. S. (2021). The effectiveness and challenges of online learning for secondary school students - A case study. Asian Journal of University Education, 17(3), 119–129. https://doi.org/10.24191/ajue.v17i3.14514
- Bénabou, R., & Tirole, J. (2006). Incentives and prosocial behavior. American Economic Review, 96(5), 1652–1678. https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.96.5.1652
- Chen, Z. (2023). The Influence of School’s Reward Systems on Students’ Development. Journal of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, 8, 1822–1827. https://doi.org/10.54097/ehss.v8i.4591
- Collins, A., Bronte-Tinkew, J., & Burkhauser, M. (2008). Using incentives to increase participation in out-of-school time programs (pp. 1–7). Washington, DC: Child Trends. http://childtrends.org/wp- content/uploads/2013/05/child_trends-2008_06_18_pii_incentives.pdf
- Creswell, J. W. (2013). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research (Fourth Indian edition). PHI Learning Private Limited.
- Deci, E. L., Koestner, R., & Ryan, R. M. (2001). Extrinsic rewards and intrinsic motivation in education: Reconsidered once again. Review of Educational Research, 71(1), 1–27. https://doi.org/10.3102/00346543071001001
- Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (1985). Intrinsic Motivation and Self-Determination in Human Behavior. Springer US. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2271-7
- Dixson, M. D. (2015). Measuring student engagement in the online course: The online student engagement scale (OSE). Online Learning, 19(4). https://doi.org/10.24059/olj.v19i4.561
- Drexler, J. (2010). Teacher’s attitudes about reward systems in the classroom (Master’s thesis). Department of Education and Human Development, State University of New York College.
- Docan, T. N. (2006). Positive and negative incentives in the classroom: An analysis of grading systems and student motivation. Journal of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 6(2), 21–40. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ854925
- Ferrer, N. B. (2017). The effect of graded recitation on students’ participation in classroom discussions. PSU Research Journal. https://psurj.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/2017-07.pdf
- Feng, Z., & Xiao, H. (2024). The impact of students’ lack of learning motivation and teachers’ teaching methods on innovation resistance in the context of big data. Learning and Motivation, 87, 102020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lmot.2024.102020
- Gibson, D., Ostashewski, N., Flintoff, K., Grant, S., & Knight, E. (2015). Digital badges in education. Education and Information Technologies, 20(2), 403–410. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-013-9291-7
- Halilsoy, T. (2024). The Importance of Self-Confidence. Akademik Tarih ve Dusunce Dergisi, 11. https://doi.org/10.46868/atdd.2024.803
- Haywood, J., Kuespert, S., Madecky, D., & Nor, A. (2008). Increasing Elementary and High School Student Motivation through the Use of Extrinsic and Intrinsic Rewards. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Increasing-Elementary-and-High-School-Student-the-Haywood-Kuespert/efe470b8d69a3ebf8642af37b554b060df7ce612
- Hoofman, J., & Secord, E. (2021). The effect of COVID-19 on education. Pediatric Clinics of North America, 68(5), 1071–1079. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcl.2021.05.009
- Ivankova, N. V. (2015). Mixed Methods Applications in Action Research: From Methods to Community Action. SAGE Publications, Inc. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781071909843
- Iwata, J., Telloyan, J., Murphy, L., Wang, S., & Clayton, J. (2017). The use of a digital badge as an indicator and a motivator. In International Association for Development of the Information Society (IADIS) (Ed.), Proceedings of the IADIS International Conference on Educational Technologies 2017. IADIS. https://www.learntechlib.org/p/190925/
- Lestari, R. K., & Handayani, S. S. D. (2017). Children confidence development by theme-based movement and singing method at RA Islamic Tunas Bangsa 4 Ngaliyan Semarang. BELIA: Early Childhood Education Papers, 6(1), 14–17. https://journal.unnes.ac.id/sju/index.php/belia/article/view/16163
- Pacheco, K., Alimbuyuguen, F., Balino, R., Bulaun, D., & Tabbu, K. (2018). Enhancing the attentiveness of grade 7 students in literature class through cooperative learning strategy with reward system (1st ed., Vol. 1). BSEd English.
- Phungphai, K., & Boonmoh, A. (2021). Students’ perception towards the use of rewards to enhance their learning behaviours and self-development. Journal of English Education, 7(1), 39–55. https://doi.org/10.30606/jee.v7i1.637
- Raj, B. V. S., & Divya, C. (2024). Use of Badges as Achievements to Enhance Online Learning. Archives of Medicine and Health Sciences, 12(1), 125–129. https://doi.org/10.4103/amhs.amhs_114_23
- Renard, L. (2017). Using reward systems to motivate students. BookWidgets. http://www.bookwidgets.com/blog/2017/01/using-reward-systems-to-motivate-students
- Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. American Psychologist, 55(1), 68–78. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.55.1.68
- Shernof, D. J., Ruzek, E. A., Sannella, A. J., Schorr, R. Y., Sanchez-Wall, L., & Bressler, D. M. (2017c). Student Engagement as a General Factor of Classroom Experience: Associations with Student Practices and Educational Outcomes in a University Gateway Course. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 994. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00994
- Sousa-Vieira, M.-E., Ferrero-Castro, D., & López-Ardao, J.-C. (2021). Design, Development and Use of a Digital Badges System in Higher Education. Applied Sciences, 12(1), 220. https://doi.org/10.3390/app12010220
- St. Onge, J., & Eitel, K. (2017). Increasing active participation and engagement of students in circle formations. Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.4148/2470-6353.1014
- van Eerde, W. (2015). Motivation and reward systems. Wiley Encyclopedia of Management, 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118785317.weom060146