RESEARCH :: INCENTIVE-BASED EDUCATION

Incentive-Based Research

Recent trends in education have intensified pressure for schools to perform and produce results. This coupled with the increased awareness of the diversity of learning styles has highlighted the necessity of differentiation in the classroom, including the use of creative methods of motivating students. The result? Incentive programs are being implemented in a variety of forms.

Most incentive programs provide the promise of a reward in recognition of global performance (i.e. attendance, good grades, performance on standardized tests). In these incentive programs, there is a significant "time lag" between the desired behavior and the delivery of the extrinsic reward. uBoost is different. uBoost provides students with points (a.k.a. reinforcers) immediately following a desired response or behavior. Classic behaviorist learning theory shows that this immediate stimulus results in an increased frequency of the desired behavior. This model also enables reinforcers to be attached to any performance metric.  

In addition, most incentive programs focus on particular demographics (low income, minority, and/or underperforming students). uBoost is designed to appeal to a broad range of students with varying needs and interests through a variety of elements (virtual rooms, digital assets, peer recognition, charity giving, and more).