I leave them in my class periodically.
It’s an asynchronous, online class. So, worry not. No real eggs are sacrificed.
Instead, I give tips during my live presentations that save students eons of time and mountains of frustration. Or I’ll add a benign-looking resource link that is easy to miss. Or…hold on…I don’t want to give away ALL my secrets.
But I will share this secret:
Why I do it.
There are too many to discuss, but the three most important are:
Reciprocity. The law of reciprocity tells us that by doing someone a favor – even a small one that doesn’t feel like a favor – they will likely return the favor. A favor like turning in an assignment on time.
Intermittent Reward. These rewards are spread throughout the course in the most unexpected places. But the unexpected reward doesn’t go unnoticed when found, consciously or otherwise. This is why lotteries and slot machines work.
Personification. Though, for some reason, the dynamic seems adversarial, I’m on their team. And offering these bonuses lets them know that we’re sharing this experience. I’m personified.
You might not leave Easter eggs like the ones I mentioned.
But a random thank you for doing a good job is cool. Or pointing out to the team that this idea came from Sarah. Or even an apology.
Protip.
Whatever you do, don’t use real eggs. And, if you do, write down where you put them. Trust me.