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Skillshare embraces badges: how gamification promotes learning
Achievements are proven motivators, but Skillshare’s newly announced badges could use some work.
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New year, new you, right?
It’s the dawn of 2023, a great time to finally pick up that new hobby or skill you swore you would for the past six consecutive years. (Guilty.) There are tons of resources out there that can help you achieve that goal at long last. Skillshare is just one of many platforms offering classes in everything from baking to Blender. This year, Skillshare has decided to try something new, too.
This week Skillshare announced Skillshare Badges, “a brand new way to track and celebrate your creative wins.” Badges will be displayed on members’ achievements dashboards, where certifications for class completions are also displayed. As of this posting, there are 13 neon stickers up for grabs in three categories: lifetime, milestone, and community. These are all very basic, very achievable badges.
Complete a class? You get a badge.
Save a class? You get a badge.
Follow a teacher? You get a badge.
By far, the most challenging badge attainable at the moment is the elusive “Submit 10 Projects” badge. It would take a bit…