Amy McQuigge came to talk to Ralph, Tamara and Amna about digital badging and open education in their Second Life classroom. Badging is a new way to recognize achievements beyond just grades, and badges can be displayed on websites to share accomplishments with others. Badging in the classroom can recognize students for efforts outside of typical graded work, such as community service, and can benefit students by teaching them that achievements come in many forms and preparing them for professional environments. While badging may introduce some concerns around competitiveness, its benefits of recognizing a variety of student strengths and talents are seen as outweighing these potential issues.

1. BADGING
Ralph, Tamara and Amna

2. AMY MCQUIGGE CAME TO TALK TO US IN SECOND
LIFE ABOUT BADGING AND OPEN EDUCATION

3. IT WAS OUR FIRST TIME HEARING ABOUT IT AND WE
FOUND THE IDEA TO BE QUITE INTERESTING
AMY CAME AND SPOKE TO US WHEN WE WERE
DISCUSSING TOO

4. WHAT IS BADGING?
A new way to recognize • Can be used to
achievements highlight non-graded
achievements
A way to share your • Badges can be
achievements with others displayed on internet
websites.
• It is important for
Is a new concept that students to understand
many companies, and and have experience
organizations will likely with it, as it will help them
incorporate in the future prepare for the
professional world.

5. BADGING AND THE CLASSROOM
 Can be used to recognize students for things that
they may not typically receive grades for
 This can be used to recognize gifted or disabled
children for things that they may not typically
receive recognition for, but put effort into.
 Students can be given badges for community
service, this can be a great way to encourage and
promote community service in your class.
 Can be used to recognize those students who are
struggling to do well, but have been putting in the
necessary effort and trying their best.

6. WHAT BENEFITS CAN WE SEE IN OUR
CLASSROOMS?
 Students can learn that it’s not always about
grades. Things like helping others, making an
effort, and being a good peer support is important
too!
 “Badging ceremonies” in which everyone receives a
badge for something can help us all see something
positive in everyone else, and identify it as well.
 Badging can help students identify their own
strengths, skills and talents and prepare for the
college/professional world where they may need to
explain/demonstrate what their strengths are

7. AS WITH ANYTHING, THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS
ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF BADGING
 Will students with more badges think they are
“better” than those with less badges?
 Will students begin to differentiate between the
“kinds” of badges and decide which badges hold
more importance?
 Will students begin to “race” for more badges and
get a too competitive in a negative way?
All these concerns are valid, but we can see such
things in any concept or new idea that is introduced.
We believe the benefits of badging outweigh these
concerns.