Scream Challenges: Using Gamifcation to Level Up

In ENH235: Survey of Gothic Literature I utilized gamification as a method for offering modified assignments (prizes) and extra credit. For each week, I created a "Scream Challenge" that was optional for students to complete. These were typically short critical thinking writing assignments. There were three levels of Scream Challenges: Monster Head (3 points), Mad Scientists (5 points), and Nightmares (10 points). If the student completed six Monster Heads s/he received a "No Questions Asked Late Pass" for any assignment; collecting five Mad Scientists earned a modified midterm assignment; and collecting three Nightmares earned the opportunity to skip the course final. Each Scream Challenge was designed to demonstrate the student's depth of learning on the course concepts. On average I had three students complete the challenges frequently (3-6 challenges) but no student actually earned the prizes (one student missed a prize by one challenge). Feedback indicated that: (a) students liked the challenges; (b) students felt communication of prizes or extra credit points needed to be clearer; and (c) prizes/extra credit awarded needed to be more apparent.