Badge Architectures as Tools for Sense-Making and Motivation in Engineering Education

Authors

  • Razvan Rughinis University Politehnica of Bucharest
  • Stefania Matei University of Bucharest

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3991/ijep.v5i4.4957

Keywords:

Badge architectures, achievements, gamification, motivation, reputation, engineering education

Abstract


In this paper we argue that badge architectures are narrative, material and performative repertoires which can be meaningfully employed to provide university students with a coherent understanding of education. Badge architectures function as powerful interpretative tools through which students make sense of their immediate learning world. However, the efficiency of badges in education depends on associated structures of distribution, procurement and display that articulate modes of participation within a local community of practice. By considering our experience in the design, implementation and evaluation of the badge system ‘RL Hit List’, we claim that more insightful perspectives emerge from considering motivation as a socio-technical accomplishment than as a state of mind. This view might be read as an invitation for designers and researchers to reconsider the intrinsic - extrinsic dichotomy in assessing the value of badges to motivate students.

Author Biographies

Razvan Rughinis, University Politehnica of Bucharest

Professor Faculty of Automatic Control and Computers

Stefania Matei, University of Bucharest

PhD in Sociology

Downloads

Published

2015-10-21

How to Cite

Rughinis, R., & Matei, S. (2015). Badge Architectures as Tools for Sense-Making and Motivation in Engineering Education. International Journal of Engineering Pedagogy (iJEP), 5(4), pp. 55–63. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijep.v5i4.4957

Issue

Section

Papers