Yesterday I read an article that asserted that giving all the participants a trophy or ribbon for participation does not work the way people thinks it does. Kids are smart enough to know who excels and who doesn’t and just pretending that all kids are equal just diminishes incentives to work harder. I happen to agree with the article. However, I have never been the kind of person that aspires for recognition of any kind.
I am much more about the process or experience. When I play games, I don’t mind losing as long as I had fun playing the game itself. This is a trait my nieces & niecelettes love because all four of them rejoice happily when they win. When I am crafting, I have very little interest in the finished product. Because I got what I wanted during the process of designing and making it.
Right now, my study buddy and I are working through the Treehouse’s PHP curriculum. At the end of each quiz or code challenge we get a virtual pat on the head, which is more fun than motivating. But it has inspired me to make PHP badges for the two of us as a reward for when we finish. The design process has been a lot of fun. I even made a demo version so I could work through any bugs in the process.
Sounds great, right? I get to learn a programming language and get a craft project to boot. What could be the problem? Well, I only discovered the problem when someone asked what I intended to do with my badge once I had earned it. I had no answer. I don’t need no stinkin’ badge! And, I am trying to declutter my house, so what will I do with this object d’art? It will likely get caught up in the pile of sentimental items that I can’t quite get rid of. That is actually a disincentive to finish my badge. But, I want to finish the badge. After all, I find the process of making it to be fun.
What’s a girl to do? I have toyed with the idea of only making one badge for my study buddy. But, that somehow feels wrong. After all, if we are learning together shouldn’t we get matching badges? I haven’t given up on coming up with a reasonable solution. After all, I still have to make the darn thing before I have do decide what to do with it.
I am open to recommendations and suggestions if one of my readers has a brilliant solution.