This document summarizes open badges and their role in recognizing skills. It discusses how open badges can provide a common language for competencies, recognize diverse types of learning, and create flexible learning pathways. Badges offer a portable, digital record of skills and accomplishments that is shared online. The document provides several examples of open badges being used across industries and educational institutions to recognize skills, make skills visible, and support lifelong learning.

1. Mohawk College
November 20, 2018
@donpresant
Open Badges
Making Skills Visible

2. About Me

3. CONTEXT
NEED: Better ways to recognize skills

4. Is there a “Skills Gap”?
TheAssociationRoleintheNewEducationParadigm
declining degree completion rates
“non-traditional” students: 73% PSE enrolment
high youth unemployment
critical skills shortages affecting productivity
rising cost of higher education
World of Work: volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous
Traditional educational approaches can’t keep up!

5. Keeping up in Hamilton – Careers at the Port
96%

6. More than technical skills
World Economic Forum: Future Of Jobs 2016
Across nearly all industries, the
impact of technological and other
changes is shortening the shelf-life
of employees’ existing skill sets.
Overall, social skills – a such as
persuasion, emotional intelligence
and teaching others – will be in higher
demand across industries than
narrow technical skills
Top 10 Skills in 2020
1. Complex problem solving
2. Critical thinking
3. Creativity
4. People management
5. Coordinating with others
6. Emotional intelligence
7. Judgment & decision making
8. Service orientation
9. Negotiation
10.Cognitive flexibility

7. What employers want - The Manufacturing Institute
youtu.be/VEgwJwrK3qQ

8. Calling for a common language for competencies
cwf.ca

9. Learning in a VUCA world: lifelong, lifewide
Volatile ~ Uncertain ~ Complex ~ Ambiguous (and often dangerous)
sceptrefellows

10. Seeing the individual

11. Diverse learners
New Game, New Rules: Strategic Positioning for Workforce Development.
Warford, Larry J.; Flynn, William J. Adapted Radionoff, K – Madison College

12. Disruption: Education à la carte
www.udacity.com/nanodegree

13. Disruption - Competency Based Learning
Escaping from “seat time”
hbr.org
“… high-quality learning pathways
that are affordable, scalable, and
tailored to a wide variety of current
and emergent industries, based on
competencies, not courses.”
ingegno.in

14. Authentic assessment

15. Recognition as a right
“… all kinds of learning and training outcomes deserve to be
valued and validated, regardless of where and how they
were obtained.”
unesco.org

16. Courses: events that start learning journeys
deakinprime.com / wikipedia.org

17. Knowing is not doing…
University of South Australia

19. Paper silos: issues with hard copy credentials
freedesignfile.com/92259
Transparency issues
OPAQUE: often needs other documents, e.g.
syllabus, which is often hard to understand
QA mechanisms are often buried
Can be hard to authenticate, easy to forge
Physical issues
Difficult to share, easy to lose
Recognition issues
Lack of context - no links to supporting evidence
Experiential learning is typically not valued
Transversal skills are typically not tracked
Lack of granularity, “stackability”
Uncertain alignment, transfer, articulation

20. OPEN BADGES
Currency for Recognition

21. Flexible learning pathways
 modular, stackable, laddered,
multi-source, remixable
Clear progress markers
 motivating learners, supporting advisors
Visual branding
 issuers and earners
Online trust system
 demonstrate skills & capabilities
 backed by issuer
 track learning impact
A digital representation of an skill, accomplishment or affiliation that is visual, shareable online and contains
credentialing information in standardized format, including trusted links that help explain the context,
meaning, process and result of an activity.
The open standard enables the earner to share the badge beyond the context where it was earned.
Open Badge – micro-credential… or alternative credential?
Portable record of learning, owned by the learner

22. Badge example

23. Mapping badgespace
credentials
digital badges
Open
Badges
micro-
credentials
CC BY Doug Belshaw dougbelshaw.com
Standards-based
& interoperable
No image
requirement

25. Some badged learning pathways

27. Digital tender for a skills economy

28. Some ways to recognize with Open Badges
Program/course/module completion
eLearning or Face to Face; “high stakes” or “light touch”;
developmental or compliance
Competency certification
Can be flexible assessment: exams, portfolios,
skills demonstrations, etc.
Membership
Associations, organisations,
professional bodies
Experience, expertise, service, achievements
Missions, years of service,
professional contributions
Values, interests, goals
Self-issued, endorsable by others

29. Badges: transparent lenses to focus on different aspects of learning

30. EXAMPLES
Within and beyond education

31. Useful institutional taxonomy
Chris Long, Penn State

32. Trades Certification - City & Guilds/Worldchefs
worldchefs.org/Certification
Issued using
sharable
Open Badges

33. Continuing Education - Logistics
Harper College Continuing Education

34. Stackingbadges
Keep learning.

35. 35
Knowledge Skills Proficiency Certified General
“Badging is how we will measure resume-worthy IBM skills in the market”
IBM Badge Types

36. Workforce skills mapping across IBM

37. Digital Enterprise Award (UK)
Industry-endorsed skills
www.onemillionyoungideas.org.uk
Improving the digital and enterprise skills of one million young people
in the next five years.

38. At risk populations
http://huxleypiguk.blogspot.ca/2014/11/open-badges-launch.html
Awarded to all trainees who have completed the initial six months of
experience with Newport City Homes and who have moved onto
further training or work as a result of the programme
Awarded for completing the mandatory
induction process for academy trainees
Awarded for the completion of training
relevant to health and safety within
Newport City Homes
Awarded for completing essential online
training relevant to academy trainees
“The main aim of
the programme is to
help trainees gain
the experience and
credentials to move
on (to employment).
Building employability from a public housing base

39. Supporter to Reporter (S2R-UK)
Transforming interests into skills
www.digitalme.co.uk/s2r
Project based learning programme that develops skills and confidence through sports reporting.

40. • Chicago Summer of Learning - 2013
Community -> Region
bit.ly/CSOLplaylist

41. Summer -> Cities of Learning
Year round, spreading to other cities
Other cities: Pittsburgh, Dallas, D.C. (visit )
~150,000 badges awarded
3% Participation
92% Skill
5% Achievement
>210,000
young people125 organizations
Driven by the interests of
the youth participants
citiesoflearning.org
City of Chicago, MacArthur Foundation, Mozilla - 2013
Driven by the interests of
the youth participants
Now
known as
Chicago City of Learning
STEAM-based programming (add Arts)

42. RECOGNITION NETWORKS
The power of trusting others

43. Colorado – a cross-sectoral network
DPS presentation
Employer
Engagement
Sponsor Employers:
“We value these badges.”
Endorser Employers:
“We unlock opportunities
for earners of these
badges.”

44. slideshare.net/philippepetitqueux/

45. A regional network of networks

46. 21st Century Skills Badging Challenge
Cross-sectoral, scalable networks
eddesignlab.org/badgingchallenge/ * see p21.org

47. Cross-sectoral design lab

48. Pilot: “Catalyst” Credential
Action grounded
in Contemplation

49. Pittsburgh, City of Learning (Sprout Fund)

50. Youth: Cities of Learning -> LRNG
www.lrng.org/cities

51. International Humanitarian Recognition Network
hpass.org/

52. Humanitarian System
ALNAP SOHS 2015
> 90% national/local field personnel

53. Coming together: Key Standards, Competencies

54. LEARNING PROVIDER STANDARDS ASSESSMENT PROVIDER STANDARDS
Employers & Volunteer
Organisations (E&V)
Humanitarians (H)
AUDITING SERVICE
Quality Auditors
Request
audit
Seek & evaluate to
recruit & develop
Seek & earn, to learn
& be recognised
Import
badges
External
badge platforms
“HPass Endorsed”
Signposting for LPs, APs
who meet Audit standards
Resources & Tools on HPass Portal
Competency
Resources
CHCF
Resources
Assessment Provider
Standards
AP Standards
Handbook
LP Standards
Handbook
QAM
Guidebook
QAM
Self-assessment tool
Learning Provider
Standards
Earner
Resources
Issuer
Resources
QALC PCLC Badges
Learning Providers (LP) Assessment Providers (AP) Credentialing Bodies (CB)
Other External
Badge Issuers
(by agreement)
Open Badge Factory
BADGE CREATION / ISSUING
Create
Issue
myHPass
BADGE STORAGE / SHARING
Share & connect
to advance
HPass Overview

55. Talent
Pipeline
Recruitment
Onboarding
Team Building
Performance Management
Talent Management
Experience
Achievements
Professional Development
Career Development
Leadership
Development
SME Specialization
Career Change
Outplacement
Endorsed
HPass, ANSI
Peer orgs
Earners
Open, Lifewide Learning
MOOCs, Open Ed Resources,
Personal Learning Networks,
Coaching/Mentoring,
Communities of Practice
Demand
Supply
Career
Pathways
Skills
Marketplace
External
Recognition
Humanitarian
Learning &
Assessment
Providers
Local, Global
New
Recruit?
New
Mission?
HRIS/ERP
Systems
Performance
Management
Systems
Talent
Management
Systems
New
Role?
New
Career?
Some potential participants...
Aligned
Skills Frameworks
Sector Standards
HPass
Badge
(Audited)
Open Credentialing – an emerging vision for humanitarians

57. eCampusOntario - a growing network
Displayer APIIntegration
badges.ecampusontario.ca
Badges
Mohawk
Durham
Fanshawe
Georgian
Ryerson
Waterloo
Western
Windsor
Algonquin
Humber
Seneca OCAD
X
X

58. Sample badge

59. Simon Bates, University of
British Columbia. CC BY-SA
Provincewide faculty PD: Ontario Extend

60. Extend’s Badged Pathway

61. Extend’s Badged Pathway

62. EARLY STEPS
“Thinking agile”

63. Early steps with Open Badges
Effective Practices
based on: MichaelBoll.me, Madison College
Early hands-on exploration
Immerse yourself
as issuer AND earner
Focusing on “why”?
Gaps, opportunities, vision
Avoid under/over thinking
Agile methods
Start small, get feedback
Improve/scale over time
Business planning
Testing the business model
Sustainability, scalability
Professional resources
Instructional, technical,
creative, support
Marketing!
Formal, informal
Internal, external
Early Engagement
Talk AND listen to
Students, Educators & Employers
Low hanging fruit
Early adopters, easy wins
Build on success
Badge rigour
Clear purpose, criteria
Appropriate assessment
Recognition, portability
Align to frameworks, endorse
Build/join community networks

64. Your
institution
High
Schools
Student
Bodies
Student
Services
Faculties,
Departments
PACE/CPS
Governments
Apprenticeship
Authority
Accreditation
Organizations
ConEd, CPD
Contract Training
Professional
Education
Undergraduate
Studies
Post-Graduate
Studies
Post-Secondary
Preparation
Community
Organizations
Private
Educators &
Trainers
Employers
Business
Associations
Sector
Bodies
Professional
Bodies
PSE as a learning ecosystem
Other
institutions

66. Centralized badging vs. inside the LMS
Using Moodle / Totara as an example
Feature/Aspect Native LMS CanCred Factory plug-in
System Control
No global system.
Ad hoc, individual course level.
Centralized, role-based badge system
system design, issuing, tracking.
Access to badges Hard to move between courses Create once, access globally
Reports No comprehensive reports Detailed global reports
Records management
(“badge rot”)
Badges are vulnerable to course
deletion, system upgrades
Centralized, secure badge records stored
stored outside of LMS
Adding Evidence No way to add evidence Option to add evidence
Road map, future flexibility Part of LMS road map, flexibility is LMS-
is LMS-dependent
LMS-independent road map - highly
highly flexible, agile

67. Offline tools

68. Light touch “badge experience”
YOUR BADGE
HERE
Adapted from wearesnook.com/badgemaker CC BY
BADGE NAME:
DESCRIPTION:
HOW CAN SOMEONE EARN THIS BADGE?
WHY WOULD WE CARE ABOUT THIS BADGE?

69. Experience: Hands-on workbook

70. Plan: Badge System Design Workbook

71. Resource: full documentation

72. Early steps with Open Badges
Effective Practices
based on: MichaelBoll.me, Madison College
Early hands-on exploration
Immerse yourself
as issuer AND earner
Focusing on “why”?
Gaps, opportunities, vision
Avoid under/over thinking
Agile methods
Start small, get feedback
Improve/scale over time
Business planning
Testing the business model
Sustainability, scalability
Professional resources
Instructional, technical,
creative, support
Marketing!
Formal, informal
Internal, external
Early Engagement
Talk AND listen to
Educators, Learners & Managers
Low hanging fruit
Early adopters, easy wins
Build on success
Badge rigour
Clear purpose, criteria
Appropriate assessment
Recognition, portability
Align to frameworks, endorse
Build/join community networks
tcu.gov.on.ca/
ON Essential Employability Skills
(ON-EES)
(no levels)
1. Communication
Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening,
Presenting, Visual literacy
2. Numeracy
Understanding and applying
mathematical concepts and reasoning;
Analyzing and using numerical data;
Conceptualizing
3. Critical thinking & problem solving
Analysing, Synthesising, Evaluating,
Decision making, Creative and innovative
thinking
4. Information management
Gathering and managing information;
Selecting and using appropriate tools and
technology for a task or a project;
Computer literacy; Internet skills
5. Interpersonal
Team work, Relationship management,
Conflict resolution, Leadership,
Networking
6. Personal
Managing self; Managing change and
being flexible and adaptable; Engaging in
reflective practices; Demonstrating
personal responsibility

73. Endorsement
A new way to build trust in the network
Badges Employer
(Consumer)
Individual
(Earner)
College
(Issuer)
University
(Issuer)
Industry
Association
Accreditation
Organization
Standards
Body
Professional
Body

74. Alignment & Endorsement synergy
Badge Earners
(ROADMAP)
Employers
Standards
Bodies
Professional
Bodies
Skills
Frameworks
Qualification Level
Frameworks
Professional
& Industrial
Standards
Alignment
Industry
Associations
Accreditation
Organizations
Post Secondary
Institutions
Endorsement+
High
Value
Badges
= “Secret sauce”

77. Questions?
@donpresant