Pocket Points Motivates Students to Study

Mobile app enjoys unprecedented download rate

Krista ClawsonTHE SANTA CLARAOctober 29, 2015 

[dropcap]A[/dropcap] new app called Pocket Points, which rewards students for not using their phones in class, is taking Santa Clara by storm. The concept is straightforward. One simply downloads the free app and creates a login, then the student locks the phone and begins to accumulate “points.”

Points are awarded for every minute that the phone stays locked. These points can then be redeemed at many local and online businesses for free or discounted items.

According to junior Sophie Hinshaw, one of the application’s campus representatives, 22 percent of Santa Clara students have downloaded the app.

“Considering that Santa Clara is so small compared to other universities where the app is taking off, this percentage of users is quite significant,” Hinshaw said. “It equates to about 1,330 users here.”

The app works by utilizing a geofence, a physical boundry that determines where the app can be used. The ambassadors digitally highlighted areas on a map of campus where they believed the app should work.

The company then created virtual barriers around these buildings and spaces, which the app detects on students’ phones.

Campus representative sophomore Isaiah Everett explained that all academic buildings, Benson, Locatelli and the Learning Commons are included in the geofence.

None of the residential halls are within it; however, the classrooms in Graham, Sobrato and Casa Italiana are.

Pocket Points can help alleviate the growing problem of students texting or using their phones for other reasons during class.

Because it works in the library and many study spaces as well, it can also help students stay focused on their studies outside the classroom.

“It’s good motivation to stay off my phone, especially in the library,” said sophomore Sydney Munson.  “It keeps me from getting distracted and I’m able to get more work done because I’m not constantly checking my phone.”

The application can also help teachers keep their students on-task and engaged with the course material.

“It’s innovative because it creates an incentive for students to take it upon themselves to pay attention in class, instead of having to be reminded or punished by teachers for doing so,” Hinshaw said. 

These incentives include discounts, coupons or free gifts at many local and online businesses.  The app’s business partners around Santa Clara’s campus include Quiznos, Mission City Creamery, Round Table Pizza and Ike’s Love and Sandwiches.  Online, points can be redeemed at over 35 businesses, including popular stores like Society6, COAST Apparel and the Sacramento Kings online ticket sales site.

“The idea is really cool for college students,” said junior Matt Kalbrosky. “My friends and I like how it essentially rewards us with food like Ike’s Sandwiches for not using our phones and helps us stay focused in the process.”

While the app has reached many on campus, the representatives are still trying to get the idea out to the majority of students.

Hinshaw said at larger schools, representatives give presentations about the app in huge lecture classrooms; however, the small-class culture at Santa Clara doesn’t exactly permit that model.

“Word of mouth definitely plays a huge part of helping programs take off at this school, so we are trying to get people talking about it by promoting it on campus and social media,” she said. 

The three campus representatives plan to promote the app by tabling events, hosting competitions and a launch party and giving presentations to various clubs and organizations.

“Once more students download the app, we hope to have a launch party sometime next quarter,” Everett said.

Hinshaw also said that to attract more users, they will possibly program the app to work in the dorms during finals week.

“During winter quarter, we are going to host a competition between Greek life and sponsor an event for the winners,” said representative junior Katie Bipes. “In the spring, we hope to sponsor a few day parties,” she continued.

Pocket Points is currently operating at over 185 campuses and has over 100,000 users.

Contact Krista Clawson at kclawson@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.