From Lockdown to Learning: How Gamification Can Rebuild Student Motivation

When schools closed their doors in 2020, classrooms everywhere were turned upside down. Students who once thrived on social interaction, structure, and the energy of a live classroom suddenly found themselves isolated behind screens. A recent Portland State University honors thesis, From Lockdown to Learning (Kelly Lindberg, 2025), reveals just how deeply the pandemic disrupted student motivation — and why teachers are still feeling the effects today.

What the Research Found

The study found three key challenges that continue to affect student learning:

• Decline in Intrinsic Motivation: Students lost their natural drive to learn, struggling to feel competent or connected during remote learning.
  
  

• Weakened Social Bonds: Returning to in-person classes didn’t automatically rebuild friendships or student–teacher trust, leaving engagement lagging.
  
  

• Emotional Well-Being: Anxiety, burnout, and stress made it harder for students to focus on academics, even when schools reopened.

In short, students came back to classrooms academically present but emotionally absent. For many teachers, this meant traditional strategies just weren’t working as well anymore.

The Classroom Hero Approach

That’s where Classroom Hero steps in. Our platform helps teachers re-ignite motivation by turning learning into something students want to be part of — a game. Here’s how it addresses the problems raised in the study:

• Boosting Motivation Through Rewards
  Students earn points for positive behavior, participation, and effort. Every “small win” builds competence, helping kids feel like they’re making progress.
  
  

• Rebuilding Social Connections
  Interactive games, class goals, and team challenges foster collaboration. Instead of competing alone, students cheer each other on and rebuild community.
  
  

• Supporting Emotional Well-Being
  Recognition matters. A point for raising a hand, a badge for helping a classmate, or a reward for consistent attendance gives students the daily encouragement they need to feel valued.
  
  

• Creating Student-Centered Classrooms
  Teachers can customize rewards — from homework passes to sweet treats to bonus time — making learning feel personal and relevant to their students.

Why It Works Now More Than Ever

The thesis emphasizes that schools need to focus on competence, relatedness, and autonomy to recover from the pandemic’s motivational slump. Classroom Hero is built on exactly those principles:

• Competence: Celebrate progress.

• Relatedness: Strengthen classroom bonds.

• Autonomy: Let students make meaningful choices in their learning journey.

A Call to Teachers

If you’ve noticed your students struggling to stay engaged, know you’re not alone. Motivation has shifted — but it can be rebuilt. By blending positive reinforcement, interactive learning, and student-centered rewards, Classroom Hero gives you the tools to meet this challenge head-on.

It’s time to move from lockdown learning to lively, connected classrooms again. Let’s make it fun. Let’s make it motivating. Let’s make it heroic.

👉 Learn more about Classroom Hero and see how gamification can transform your classroom.