It works...

It has been quite a while since I last tried using badges (or Praise in Microsoft Teams) to engage with students. Today, I feel like giving them some credits.

Today is the first day of ENTS group presentation. Six groups presented their proposals for an enterprise system, based on the questions given to them, which comprised two business processes, and three critical points for successful implementation of the system. In total, there are 20 groups, and today is just a start.

The day started with me, trying to be early, arrived at the venue with a hot americano in one hand, and carrying two laptop bags and a handbag, came straight from the parking lot. I did a quick check on the Moodle, only one group submitted the presentation slide. Weird! I guess the other five groups are just waiting until the last minute before their presentation session to upload the "finalized" slides. Oh well..., let's just trust them 'til then.

The first two groups lack of something I required and mentioned many times in the class. It made me wonder if they were even there in the class, or only their physical selves were there, not the whole mind and soul. Regardless of their effort in presenting well, which they did, that little something I wanted was just not there. Hhmm...

The next group saw me with a pair of gleaming eyes staring back at them, nodding throughout their presentation. "Yes, I've seen this diagram before, and I liked them, it's just that I never told them," I said to myself. The group presentation was very clear, clean, concise, and... creative! Actually, I never enforced any type of diagrams to be presented for this assignment. Even my lecture notes do not present any particular diagram to explain a business process. To me, as long as you have "a" diagram, and you are able to present verbally without referring to any notes, it has proven to me that you have done the work. As simple as that. This group has made it "KISS", in my term it means "Keep It Simple and Straightforward", and a praise/badge is deserved.

Moving on to the next two groups, they have referred to me so many times and they have learnt from me again and again on how to refine their business processes. They produced comprehensive and sort of complex business processes, which I believe due to their overthinking. Effort counts, I always say, and they deserve badges too.

The last group was the one I pity the most. Due to the lengthy presentations by the previous two groups, the time was almost up. From the slim window next to the classroom door, the next lecturer was already anxiously waiting. After 10 minutes into the presentation, the next class came rushing in. "Sorry, guys. Would you mind if we continue this outside?" I interrupted the presenting member. They quickly agreed, and we rushed out and found an empty table at the corridor to continue with the presentation. One thing about this group that I salute so much is their fluency in presenting without notes, and without referring to the slides too! Their speech was very clear, fluent and spontaneous. I salute their courage!

Upon sharing the praises/badges in the class Teams, emojis, likes and thumbs up came popping up from the group members and their classmates. They are surely quick in responding to praises and badges. Hope this brings more fun in learning to this group of students, in their upcoming modules.

#classmanagement #studentengagement #teachingandlearning #learningexperience