Set up a points based program/challenge

Note: Sometimes administrators ask us if they can simply edit a past program rather than create a new program from scratch. You should definitely not do this! Instead, you will want to duplicate an existing program or create a new program.

If you have a program that allows people to achieve different levels by doing different things, a points program is probably for you! With a points program, you add a value to different actions.

Follow the instructions below to setup a points program: 

1. Confirm that points are active on your site by following the steps in this article. 
2. Setup points increments by following the steps in this article.

Create a Program

Follow the steps below to create a program based on reading and activities:

1. Login as a library administrator.
2. Go to Setup > Manage Program/Challenges.
3. Click on Create a Program.
   
4. Select Earning Points for the ways in which people can earn badges. 
   

Program Setup

The first part of you program you will work on is Program Setup. This is where you will enter some basic information for your program. Follow the instructions below to complete the Program Setup page: 

1. Enter Program Name: What do you want to call this program? The name will be visible to patrons.
2. Provide a Program Description: Tell your patrons all about your program! If you have a paper reading log, be sure to link to a PDF (printable) version of the log within the description. You may use html code in your description to add things like italics, boldface, color, and more to the description.
3. Set the Program Position:If you are offering more than one program, determine where it will appear on a patron's page. 
4. Add a Header Image: Include a program image. The ideal size for this image is 920x351.
5. Scope your Program by Age or Grade: What ages or grade level is this program available? Remember, if you are scoping a program according to grade level, you want that registration field to be required on your site.
6. Set the Program Dates: What are the dates on which this program will be live and available to readers? Note that in the date fields. If you leave this blank, the program will be considered “ongoing.”
7. Determine if the program is Staff Only: Is this program intended to be only for those with staff level access? If so, select “yes,” only for staff members. This is a setting you may change later but may be helpful for training/testing purposes!
8. Determine if you would like to enable Alternative Programs: Decide whether readers may participate in this program and any other program, or if they need to choose between this and another program. 
9. Select Additional Required Registration Information: Select which questions you want to require your readers to provide before enrolling in the program. Note that if they already provide this information when they register for Beanstack it is likely unnecessary to require your readers to provide this information again.

Badges

The next section of your program to setup is Badges. This is where you will determine the logging milestones, choose badge images, and attach any rewards or certificates you see fit.
At the top of the page you will see the types of logging that you have enabled for your program/challenge. 

In the middle of the page you will see Badge Time Restrictions. Select "Any Time" if you want badges to be earned at any time during a program/challenge, or you select "Restricted" if you want badges to be earned within a specific time frame. Note that restricting your badges will change logging in your program from cumulative to episodic. 

Next, you will note there are three types of badges in a program based on reading and activities: Registration Badge, Completion Badge, and Points Badges. 

Including a registration badge is recommended for all programs! Follow the steps below to add a Registration Badge: 

1. Select Add a Badge.
   
   
2. Next, click on the badge you want to “pop up” upon registration for a reader.
3. Choose a badge image: Here you can select badges from different badge groups.  If you click on one of the groups, you will then only see badges associated with that group as options below. This is an optional action, and can save you time if you already know the group to which your preferred badges are attached.  If you have uploaded your own custom badges they will also show up in the filter options.
   

Once you select the badge, the ability to add a reward will also become available. You may select an existing reward on your site or create a new reward.Once you add a reward, it will be available to use for other programs as well. Keep in mind that the “Instructions for recipients” will appear with a badge when it is earned, will remain on the reader’s dashboard, and will also go to their email as a notification. For example, you may want to indicate a “pick up by” date for a prize in the instructions.

Follow the instructions below to add a reward to your Registration Badge: 

1. Return to the Badges page of your program setup and scroll to Registration Badge.
2. To add a new reward click on +Add New.
   
3. Add instructions on how readers can receive their reward. 
4. Then, click "Save and add".
   
5. You can now select your new reward from the registration badge's drop-down menu.

Next, you have the opportunity to add a Completion Badge. Ask yourself, at what increments do we want to acknowledge achievement with a virtual badge, or virtual badge and a prize? For example, consider completing this phrase, “I want a reader to earn a badge for having read ___ books/mins/hrs, etc.” You will have the chance to determine what a completion is for a program later in the setup process. 

Follow the instructions below to add a Completion Badge:

1. Return to the Badges page of your program setup and scroll to Completion Badge.
2. Select Add a Badge.
3. Select the badge image you would like to use.
4. Determine if you would like to add an existing reward or create a new reward for the Completion Badge. Is there a reward available for having completed the whole program? If so, add the badge and reward here. If you plan to connect a completion reward to a logging badge or activity badge, then do not add a completion reward or it will be awarded twice!  Set up a completion badge reward the same way you would a registration badge reward.
   

Time to setup Points Badges!

Follow the instructions below to add Points Badges: 

1. Return to the Badges page of your program setup and scroll to Points Badges.
2. Select Create a Badge.
3. Click on Choose Badge to select the badge image you would like to use.
4. Choose the Points Goal. In this example, we are creating a badge that will be awarded to those who earn 10 points.
   
   Note that unless you added badge date restrictions to your points badges, earning points is cumulative. This means you would set points badges for 10 points, 20 points, 30 points, and so on, rather than three badges for 10 points
   
5. Determine if you would like to add an existing reward or create a new reward for the Logging Badge. Add an existing reward by selecting from the drop-down menu or create a new one by selecting "Create A Reward".
   Readers will receive a notification when they earn a reward, and this will also be indicated for staff to see on the reader's page.
6. Determine Time Restrictions if necessary. If a badge may be earned at any time during your program, simply leave this section blank. If not, indicate the dates during which it may be earned. 
   
7. Click Save and Add! 
8. Repeat for as many points badges as you'd like to setup!

Tickets

Adding Ticket Drawings to your program is optional. Ticket Drawings allow readers to determine where they want their entries to go if you have multiple drawing options available to them. 

For example, if a reader earns three ticket, they may decide where to allot their tickets based on the drawings available. See this helpdesk article to setup a ticket drawing. 

Completion Requirements

The final part of building a program is determining the Completion Requirements. This is where you can decide how many badges/which badges are required to complete a program. Which badges must someone earn in order to complete the program, versus which are going the extra mile?

Saving a Program 

Last step! Ready to finalize your program? Determine if this program is still a draft or if it should be published. 

Draft: Save as a draft if you do not want this program to be visible to any readers or staff members.
Published: Once you save a program in a “published” state, it is live on your site. Even if the start date for the program is in the future, if the program is published, it would then be available for pre-registration.

Remember to click Save!

You did it! REPEAT for any additional programs you plan to offer!