Gamification
Gamification applies game mechanics such as points, badges, levels and leaderboards to a course, to sustain motivation and increase how many students reach the end.
It works because it makes progress visible. A progress bar or a daily streak turns something abstract into something measurable.
It has a known limit: if the reward is disconnected from real learning, the mechanic wears off fast. Points help sustain a habit; they do not replace content worth finishing.