Introduction
My wife teaches Earth Science and Astronomy and asked for “a prize system that actually teaches teamwork.”
Her notes became the blueprint for Lumenarie Marketplace—a small web app where students earn Lumens (little stars ✨) for positive, specific behaviors, then spend them in a class store that’s open any day. The aim is purpose over points: reinforce collaboration, kindness, and follow-through.
What We Set Out to Solve
- Visibility: Each student needs a clear “money pouch” showing their current Lumens and history.
- Fairness: Every award requires a stated reason; approvals are consistent and auditable.
- Focus: Students see exactly how to earn, with guardrails like max 3 Lumens/day and clear receipts for purchases.
- Belonging: Organize students by class and track table groups for context (table-group assignment is coming later).
- Delight, not distraction: A small animation/notification when Lumens are awarded so effort feels seen—without interrupting class time.
- Teacher Time: Awarding, approving, and reconciling purchases should be fast.
Students & Groups
Every student has a pouch (balance) and a transaction log. The teacher can organize by class and move students between classes as needed.
Table groups are currently view-only; teacher assignment to table groups will come in a future update.
The Store
The store lists real, motivating items. Prices are visible, and students can pick a goal item to see how many more Lumens they need. Purchasing is available any day, so students can plan and redeem when it fits the class routine.
- Crack-yourself geodes
- Resin animals
- Squishy animals
- Stickers
- Chocolate
- Mini Oreo / Mini Chips Ahoy / Sour Patch Kids
Earning Lumens (Clear, Specific Behaviors)
Students earn at most 3 Lumens per day. Each award has a reason attached.
Examples that align with class goals:
- Offer a helpful clarification when a group member is unsure of a concept
- Step up to help a struggling group member (e.g., read text aloud, scribe their thoughts)
- Compare notes with a peer and add one thing you missed
- Give a genuine, specific compliment to each group member (“sneaky compliments” don’t count)
- Invite a quiet group member to share
- Add a significant paragraph to the group’s notes
- Sit with your table group for the entire class period
Students can submit proof of completion when the teacher might have missed something; the teacher reviews and approves or denies with a reason.
Class & Goal Design
Class-wide goals keep the room’s energy on track:
- Keep group work time under 80 dB (room noise)
- Every student turns in the assignment (papers make it to the turn-in box)
Goals are written in plain language and visible on the student dashboard so everyone knows how to win the day.
Classes and Quick Edits
Teachers can open a class, move students between classes, and immediately see balances, pending submissions, and goal progress. Table groups are visible for context, with assignment coming in a future update.
What Students See
The student dashboard is deliberately simple: balance, goal progress, ways to earn next, and a prominent “Submit Proof” button. Students can also select a goal item and track “Lumens to go.”
Guardrails That Keep It Healthy
- Max 3 Lumens per day per student
- Every transaction has a reason (award or purchase)
- Teacher approval for student-initiated submissions
- Role-safe updates: teachers can move students between classes and adjust prices; student actions are scoped to their own account
What’s Next
- Noise goal automation: use the classroom computer’s microphone to detect if the room stays under 80 dB during group work and auto-award Lumens at the end of the block (with teacher override).
Why This Matters
The real goal isn’t candy or trinkets—it’s building habits: kindness, inclusion, and accountable collaboration. The Lumens and the store are just the visible part; the culture is the prize.