Student incentive scheme
In the Virtual-Workspace learning brings rewards! As students use their workspaces for their learning and leisure, they earn points. They can then spend these points on real rewards in the V-W Rewards Catalogue - or bid for them at lower prices in the V-W auctions.
The reward points incentive scheme is the motivational force behind the V-W. This dynamic points system is built-in to the Site and is fully administered by V-W staff.
The way in which points are earned can be altered to encourage students to access particular resources or engage with certain areas or events in their workspace.
There are four elements to the incentive scheme:
Rewards Catalogue
Students can use their points to order rewards - securely online, from the V-W Rewards Catalogue.
The Rewards Catalogue includes gift vouchers, CDs, DVDs, books, computer games and a range of miscellaneous items. Students are encouraged to send us feedback on the sorts of rewards they would like to see included in the Catalogue.
From time to time, special promotions feature in the Catalogue (eg an end of term sale or Christmas promotion). This gives any student with a low points balance the opportunity to purchase something from the Catalogue.
If a student does not have enough points to buy what they want, they can put it on their ‘wish list’. The student can then monitor their progress towards reaching this target - a motivational tool which teachers can tap into by sending assignments via the V-W to help boost their students' points balances.
Auctions
As part of the incentive scheme, students can use their points to bid for rewards in special auctions set up in the V-W. These auctions can be used to support and promote other activities taking place in the Site. For example, there is an online Book Club community, and each month the book chosen for review is auctioned in the Site.
Previous auction rewards have included mini iPods, bicycles, digital cameras, mobile phones, CDs, DVDs and computer software packages.
Competitions
From time to time, V-W staff organises competitions in the Site which reward students with points or prizes. These competitions are promoted through the Site to encourage student engagement and can support specialist interest areas or tie in with topical events.
Previous competitions have included poetry writing (to support the exclusive Poet Laureate Chat event), logic problems, photography and design.
Discretionary Points
These are given to students who demonstrate an effective use of the Virtual-Workspace; this may be through educational achievements, collaboration and / or peer support.
Our peer mentor scheme is available to all students, who can then earn discretionary points for the extra support they offer to their peers.
Reviewing resources, taking part in projects, offering ideas and suggestions are a few of the other ways that students can earn discretionary points.
