In classrooms, we often focus on motivating pupils through rewards, praise and positive reinforcement. But there’s another powerful psychological driver at play: the desire to avoid missing out or losing progress.
In gamification theory, this is known as Core Drive 8: Loss & Avoidance. It’s the motivation that comes from wanting to prevent negative outcomes like falling behind, missing a reward, or losing a status we’ve earned.
At Sumdog, we use this drive carefully and positively, encouraging pupils to stay on track, keep practising, and build consistent learning habits — all in a way that feels playful and supportive, never punitive.
What Is Core Drive 8?
Core Drive 8 is all about risk and consequence. In games, this could mean losing points, missing out on a reward, or being overtaken by another player. These small risks tap into our natural desire to maintain progress and avoid falling behind.
When used thoughtfully in education, this drive can be incredibly effective in encouraging learners to stay engaged and keep practising. It can also help pupils understand the value of effort over time, and the importance of sticking with something even when the initial excitement fades.
Encouraging Positive Habits Through Practice
On Sumdog, we use elements of Core Drive 8 to help pupils stay consistent and take ownership of their learning. It’s not about punishment or pressure, it’s about helping children build positive routines that feel rewarding.
Some examples include:
📊 Weekly goals and progress bars: Visual reminders that show how close pupils are to reaching their goal and what they might miss if they don’t complete it.
⌛ Limited-time contests and events: These add gentle time-based motivation and encourage pupils to participate before the window closes.
🏅 Live leaderboards: During contests, pupils can see their class's position move in real time — motivating them to jump in and keep their class in the game.
A Note on Using Core Drive 8 Responsibly
Because this drive is linked to the fear of loss, it must be used with care. At Sumdog, our focus is always on encouragement, not pressure.
We design our experiences to help pupils feel empowered, never anxious. That’s why we balance this core drive with rewards, feedback, and personalised content that keeps learners feeling confident and in control.
Teacher Spotlight: Using Leaderboards to Drive Effort
Mairead Thompson, Special Educational Needs Teacher and Head of Secondary Maths at Park Community Academy in Blackpool, has seen how healthy competition can keep motivation high in her classroom:
“Each month I set a competition for the class and regularly print out the leaderboard so that they can see how they are progressing. The pupils love trying to increase their scores and get so excited when they move up the leaderboard.”
This kind of enthusiasm shows how a well-designed challenge can drive ongoing participation, not through pressure, but through a sense of pride and momentum.
Takeaway Tips for Teachers
Want to harness the power of Loss & Avoidance in a positive way?
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Take part in a live Sumdog contest to help pupils work together towards a shared time-bound goal.
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Use the weekly goal to encourage steady practice and help pupils stay on track with their learning.
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Point out the class leaderboard during a contest to build excitement and spark friendly motivation.
👉 Login to your teacher account and set up work or enter your class into the next contest!
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