Download Research Tools It began with a simple question: “Why
can’t students earn digital rewards for being awesome?” A
research group comprised of university faculty, staff, and
students at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) decided
to find out. The team delved into the everyday travails of
college life—from academia to social activities—and developed a
real-world game, Just Press Play, which helps students earn a
digital reward for the ultimate achievement: collegiate success.
Each game participant receives trading cards equipped with
secret codes and a radio-frequency identification (RFID)
keychain that they can swipe to “check-in” at permanent and
temporary locations. The cards and the keychain are just the
first two tools that the students must learn to use in order to
progress through the various aspects of the game. The game is
based around challenges that occur both online and in the real
world. The challenges are designed to encourage students to
venture out of their comfort zones and get in