Gamifying your Designs Through Self-Determination

By: Shakiyla Huggins May 9, 2025

One of our biggest challenges as instructional designers and educators is to create learning experiences that are truly engaging. To achieve this, I consistently turn to Self-Determination Theory (SDT), a psychological framework developed by Deci and Ryan.

I’m a huge champion for Self-Determination Theory because I believe that approaching learning from a psychological point of view is the key to unlocking authentic engagement. It’s not just about completing tasks—it’s about crafting experiences that speak to the learner’s intrinsic needs. When you understand the why behind human motivation, you can create learning that doesn’t just inform, but inspires.

Real-World Application: Math Booklets That Drive Engagement

As both an instructional designer and educator, I strive to weave these principles into the very structure of learning materials. One example is the math booklets I design for my TeachersPayTeachers store. These booklets are intentionally structured around SDT principles to foster deeper learning and motivation.

Take a look at these reviews from teachers who have used the booklets in their classrooms:

These responses are living proof of how intentional design decisions grounded in Self-Determination Theory can transform learning.

Instructional Design Insights: Bringing SDT to Learning Experiences

Now, let’s transition to how this can work beyond the classroom. For instructional designers, the principles of SDT are just as impactful in corporate training, higher education, and eLearning environments. Here’s how each principle can be intentionally designed:

1. Autonomy: Designing for Choice and Ownership

In my math booklets, I intentionally include multiple practice problems for each concept, allowing students to choose which ones to solve. This decision-making process fosters a sense of ownership, making the experience more personal and engaging.

Instructional Design Application:

• Integrate choice-based activities in learning modules where learners select their path, tasks, or case studies.
• Allow for branching scenarios in eLearning that adapt based on learner decisions, mirroring real-world problem-solving.
• Encourage learners to choose their own projects or assessment formats to demonstrate understanding.

2. Competence: Building Mastery Through Reflection and Practice

Competence is the learner’s belief that they can achieve success with effort and perseverance. My booklets support this by including reflective writing prompts that ask students to explain concepts in their own words.

This type of reflective practice not only deepens comprehension but also reinforces their confidence as they articulate the “why” behind the math.

Instructional Design Application:

• Use reflective prompts at the end of each module to encourage learners to process what they’ve learned.
• Design self-assessment opportunities where learners can evaluate their understanding and identify areas for growth.
• Incorporate knowledge checks that require learners to explain concepts back in their own terms.

3. Relatedness: Connecting Learning to Identity and Community

Relatedness is the need to feel connected to others and the learning community. This is often the most challenging of the three needs to integrate into self-directed learning materials. In my booklets, I address this through the Author’s Page—where students write their name, design a cover, and essentially claim ownership of their learning artifact.

This simple act of authorship ties their learning back to their personal identity, fostering pride and a sense of belonging to the larger learning community.

Instructional Design Application:

• Encourage collaborative projects where learners create and share their work with peers.
• Integrate peer feedback loops where students reflect on each other’s work in a structured, supportive environment.
• Design team-based learning activities that require group problem-solving and discussion.

Bringing It All Together: Learning Through Design

Self-Determination Theory isn’t just a theory—it’s a practical design framework that can be woven into learning experiences to drive motivation and engagement. When you intentionally design for autonomy, competence, and relatedness, you transform learning from a passive experience to an active, self-directed journey.

My math booklets are a prime example of how SDT can be brought to life in tangible learning products that educators can use to transform their classrooms. And for instructional designers, these same principles can be adapted to virtual learning environments, corporate training, and higher education programs.

For Teachers: Want to bring SDT into your classroom? [Explore my math booklets here!]

For Instructional Designers: Ready to level up your designs with SDT? Challenge yourself to rethink autonomy, competence, and relatedness in your next project!