Date Approved
4-25-2025
Graduate Degree Type
Project
Degree Name
Education-Higher Education (M.Ed.)
Degree Program
College of Education
First Advisor
Laila McCloud
Academic Year
2024/2025
Abstract
This project explores how gamification can be used to increase student engagement in sustainable practices on college campuses by creating a Sustainability Recognition Program. College students, though aware of environmental issues, may struggle to connect individual actions with meaningful change. By introducing a point-based system with digital badges, milestone rewards, and leaderboards, this recognition program is designed to make sustainability more accessible, visible, and motivating for students living in residence halls. Guided by Self-Determination Theory (SDT), the program is designed to support students’ intrinsic motivation (autonomy), competence, and relatedness. By aligning sustainability goals with positive reinforcement and SDT, the overall objective of this program is to create a campus culture that values sustainability practices.
The Sustainability Recognition Program encourages students to adopt and maintain environmentally conscious habits such as recycling, composting, and environmental volunteerism. Students can track their progress, earn digital badges, move up in leaderboards, and earn milestone rewards, all of which are contributing to a collective campus sustainability movement. Lastly, the program integrates educational opportunities on what the campus considers recyclable, compostable, and what is waste.
ScholarWorks Citation
Gandolfi, Sydney K., "Sustainability Recognition Program: A Gamified Approach to Student Engagement on Campus" (2025). Culminating Experience Projects. 551.
https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/gradprojects/551
