What NOT to overbuild

Do not build a currency system, do not create badges, do not assign homework, and do not write a 10-page handbook. These are traps that delay launch and overwhelm students.

Why it matters: Every system you add before launch is a system you have to teach, troubleshoot, and defend. Teachers who overbuild spend weeks preparing and then watch students ignore half of it. Teachers who underbuild start Monday and fix problems Tuesday.

Real-world context: A high school teacher spent a month designing a complex economy with fines and salaries. On launch day, students were confused and disengaged. He scrapped everything, started with just tickets, and within two weeks students asked for more complexity themselves.