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Skyward To Add Game-Like Rewards to SIS

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 02/26/13

An education technology company with a student information system (SIS) used by 1,500 districts globally has said it intends to integrate a "student reward system" into its software to promote student engagement. Skyward, which sells a number of education applications, including the Skyward Student Management Suite, said the addition of this gamification feature is intended to "connect positive, real-life behaviors with rewards."

Students will be able to select an avatar and earn points for academic-related activities and game play. As they accumulate points, they'll be able to use them to customize their virtual identities, advance to new levels within the system, and gain other incentives, such as redeeming virtual points for actual purchases in a school store. The avatars and the point totals will be shareable with friends and family members.

Schools that use the functionality will be able to customize the program under their own brands and to set reward parameters and point allotments. Teachers can choose how to allocate points, such as reaching a specific score on an assignment, improving grades, attending class regularly, and exhibiting other positive behaviors. Reporting will allow teachers and parents to monitor progress and enable administrators to analyze usage data by school, grade, or class.

"Because our student information system is the focal point for daily school operations and student progress monitoring, it provides an ideal platform for education leaders to implement a student reward system that promotes positive reinforcement," said Skyward President Scott Glinski. He added that several customers will be testing the system this summer with the expectation that it will be ready for the 2013-2014 school year.

The company said that future releases will expand to add educational games that supplement classroom lessons in partnership with game developers and providers.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

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