Interest-Based Interventions: Incorporating Student Interests in Classroom Activities

Interest-Based Interventions Defined

Interest-based interventions capitalize on a student's interests when planning academic activities. In the past, the process of building on student interest was known as the Nintendo effect (Johns, 2011; Wright & Gurman, 1994). It also involves the process of learning what a student's preferences are so that the information can be utilized to build effective reinforcers for students. Reeves (2011) said that the effect is created when students are so engaged in learning that their focus is as if they are playing a video game.

Jeff Howard, the founder of the Efficacy Institute, pointed out that the creators of Nintendo had it figured out and made billions of ...