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Auction System Overview

Create excitement with competitive bidding! Auctions allow students to compete for special rewards using their saved currency, teaching them about budgeting, strategy, and market economics. Teacher auctions page with active auctions and create auction controls
Auctions are perfect for limited-quantity items or high-value rewards that would be unfair to sell at fixed prices.

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Creating an Auction

From your teacher dashboard, click Auctions in the sidebar, then click Create Auction. The auction builder is a 4-step wizard:
1

Step 1 — Basics

  • Title (required)
  • Description (optional)
  • Minimum Bid — the lowest amount any item can open at
  • Bid Increment — how much higher each new bid must be than the current high bid
2

Step 2 — Classrooms

Select one or more of your classrooms to participate. Students from every selected classroom bid against each other on the same items.
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Step 3 — Schedule

Set the Start Time and End Time. Toggle All Day to use full-day boundaries instead of specific clock times.
4

Step 4 — Items

Add one or more items to the auction. For each item:
  • Title (required)
  • Description
  • Image URL (optional)
  • Estimated Value — shown to students as a reference price
  • Starting Bid — the opening bid for this specific item (must be ≥ the auction’s Minimum Bid)
You can also link an item to an existing Global Reward so the winner automatically receives it.
A single auction can contain multiple items. Each item runs its own bidding race — a student can win one item even if they’re outbid on another.

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Auction Timing

Best for: Daily excitement eventsExample: “Lunch selection auction - 30 minutes during morning work”
  • High energy and engagement
  • Students must decide quickly
  • Good for low-stakes items

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Bidding Process

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How Students Bid

1

Student Views Active Auctions

Students open the Auctions tab in their dashboard and see every auction their classroom is participating in.
2

Check Current High Bid

Each item shows the current high bid and the minimum next bid (current bid + bid increment).
3

Place a Bid

The student enters an amount that is at least the minimum next bid. The amount is reserved against their balance — they can’t spend it elsewhere while it’s holding.
4

Outbid

If another student outbids them, their reserved amount is released back to their balance and they can choose to bid again.
5

Auction Ends

When the end time passes, the highest bidder on each item wins. Their bid amount is deducted and a transaction is logged.
Each student can keep bidding higher — only their current top bid counts and is reserved.

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Bid Rules

Bids must be at least Current Bid + Bid Increment — no tie bids allowed
Students must have enough available balance — reserved bids count against their available currency
Bidder identity is hidden from other students — reduces social pressure

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Auction Item Ideas

High-Value Privileges

  • Teacher’s chair for a week
  • First in line for a month
  • Homework pass (premium version)
  • Technology device choice
  • Special parking spot (older students)

Unique Experiences

  • Pizza lunch with teacher
  • Class party planning role
  • Field trip buddy selection
  • Show and tell extended time
  • Special presentation to class

Limited Physical Items

  • Premium toy or book
  • Sports equipment
  • Art supplies kit
  • Gift card (higher grades)
  • Special snack/treat

Group Benefits

  • Group free time
  • Class game selection
  • Extra recess for winners’ table
  • Group project topic choice

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Setting Reserve Prices

Start bids strategically to ensure fairness:
When to use: Weekly standard auctionsGives all students a chance while still requiring saving. Creates good participation.

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Multiple Item Auctions

Run several auctions simultaneously to increase participation:
1

Stagger Price Tiers

Run auctions at different reserve prices:
  • Low ($50) - accessible to most
  • Medium ($200) - for steady savers
  • High ($500) - for top savers
2

Vary Reward Types

Mix privileges, physical items, and experiences so different students are interested in different auctions
3

Schedule End Times

Consider ending auctions at different times so students can reallocate funds if they lose one auction
Running 3-5 simultaneous auctions means more students win something, keeping engagement high!

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Auction Management

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During the Auction

From the Auctions dashboard you can:
  • Watch each item’s current bid update in real time
  • See who’s bidding and how many bids each item has received
  • Cancel an auction at any time — this refunds every reserved bid back to the bidders
  • Place a teacher bid on behalf of a student if needed

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After the Auction

1

Finalize the Auction

When the end time passes, click Finalize to lock in winners. The system deducts the winning bid from each winner and logs a transaction.
2

Deliver the Reward

If the item is linked to a Global Reward, it shows up as a redemption to fulfill. Otherwise, hand off the item or privilege manually.
3

Announce Results

Share the winners with the class to build excitement for the next auction.

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Best Practices

Establish consistent schedule:
  • “Freedom Friday” auctions every week
  • Same time, expected by students
  • Builds anticipation and planning behavior
  • Students save all week for specific items
Help students understand smart bidding:
  • Don’t blow entire balance on one item
  • Save some currency for backup
  • Bid strategically at the end
  • Know when to walk away
Don’t make everything auction-only:
  • Keep shop available for guaranteed purchases
  • Auctions for special items only
  • Balance risk/reward for students
Celebrate auction winners:
  • Creates social recognition
  • Motivates others to save for next time
  • Builds classroom culture around economics

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Common Issues

Causes:
  • Reserve price too high
  • Item not desirable
  • Students don’t have enough currency
Solutions:
  • Lower starting bid
  • Survey students for wanted items
  • Increase earning opportunities before auction
Causes:
  • One student has much more currency
  • Other students not saving
Solutions:
  • Run multiple simultaneous auctions
  • Create “first-time winner priority” auctions occasionally
  • Teach all students saving strategies
Solution:
  • Frame as learning opportunity
  • Encourage saving for next auction
  • Ensure shop has consolation prizes
  • Remind that everyone can win eventually

Rewards System

Set up items available for auction

Currency System

Understand earning and spending mechanics