Earning Criteria

• Designers completed and contributed to the High5 method used at ReligionAndPublicLife.org, where online learners are organized into clusters of five students with similar interests and goals. Designers ensure engagement and retention by crafting exercises where students earn points and badges. The High5 learners award one another points and share kudos as they individually earn their WISE CAP, an acronym for organizing the curriculum.
• Designers scaffold the curriculum by inviting students to earn WISE CAPs where students Watch compelling videos, Interact with retention games, Study scholarly sources, and Engage their High5 teammates and instructors. Students may earn their CAP and become eligible to receive academic credit by taking three steps. Learners Compose analytical essays, Amend their written work based on faculty feedback, and verbally Present their insights to classmates and instructors in a live video conference.
• Designers support students who wish to receive academic credit with a supplemental exercise called the Capstone Project. In this instructor-supervised independent-study, students demonstrate their ability to apply their content knowledge to a community of practice. Designers ensure that the High5 Teams, the WISE CAP exercises, and Capstone Projects offered at ReligionAndPublicLife.org exceed accreditation standards and inspire students to not only come for the classes but stay for the community.