One of the big, practical lessons social science has given the rest of us is that of gamification: small game elements that improve an experience.

When we at Generocity kick off next week the second annual Tech in the Commons, a free professional development series, we’re going to follow many of the field’s best practices to add some fun.

Supported this year by the Knight Foundation and Comcast NBCUniversal, all our attendees have a chance at earning badges (real, fun pins informed by Generocity’s reporting tracks) to place on a nice certificate to be displayed your office, fridge or (ideally!) carried with you everywhere you go.

This year, Tech in the Commons features four workshops starting next Monday during Philly Tech Week 2018 presented by Comcast and running for successive weeks, and then closes with two project nights.

What do you get with the badges? Three things: an actual certificate with some acknowledgement of your work, and if you get at least two of the six badges, we at Generocity will run a story here listing you and your organization (if you want!) and you’ll get an exclusive first-look at an expanded Tech in the Commons ebook so you can take your learning back to your organization.

Learn a bit more about these badges you can earn.

BRING A FRIEND

If you attend any of the Tech in the Commons sessions with a friend who can confirm they’re in attendance because of you, this badge is yours.

RETURN FROM LAST YEAR

If you attended at least one Tech in the Commons session last year and come to another this year, you’ve earned this badge.

COMPLETE A SMART CITIES PROJECT

Come to our Smart Cities workshop night and follow through on something during the Smart Cities project night, and you’ve earned this badge!

COMPLETE A DATA STORYTELLING PROJECT

Come to our Data Storytelling workshop and follow through on something during the Data Storytelling project night, and you’ve earned this badge!

ATTEND AT LEAST TWO SESSIONS

If you come to at least two of the Tech in the Commons sessions (of four workshops and two project nights), you get this badge.

HAVE PERFECT ATTENDANCE

If you come to all four of the workshops, this is yours — because your learning will be at the maximum.

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This should be productive and fun. See you then.