In July Google News added a feature that could encourage everyone to read more: collectible badges. That got me to thinking - since this is a tracking and rewards (badges) program for reading, isn’t there a classroom initiative here just waiting to be hatched?
Here’s how it works. If you read enough Google News stories on a certain topic you get a nifty Google Badge. Read even more and soon you are rising through the levels--bronze, silver, gold, and ultimate stars.
Google has a help page and short video that explains the new feature. There are more than 500 badges for topics like sports, history, politics, science, health, and even one for stories about Harry Potter. Students can search for assigned topics or ones that interest them.
In contrast to standard online news categories, which are categories you say you want to read, Google Badges are organized into categories that you actually read. Badges could easily be developed into a reading challenge that can be shared on social networks. With some familiarity with Google Badges, this is a classroom activity that you can introduce that might make the difference for a generation of connected students who seem like they are lacking the motivation to read.
So what do you think? Will you try Google Badges in your classroom?
If you have emerging or struggling readers in your classroom, visit Reading Horizons Core Concepts page to learn how to teach some easy decoding skills that will make a difference for your students.
