The document discusses digital badges as a means of representing achievements and experiences, potentially increasing learner motivation. It explores the concept of micro-credentials and the benefits of open badges, which are verifiable and can be shared across various platforms. Sheffield Hallam University employs these badges in their MOOCs to evidence completion of additional activities and to encourage reflective learning.

1. Surfacing Skills and Rewarding
Achievements with Digital Badges
Dr. Ian Glover
Senior Lecturer in Technology Enhanced Learning
Sheffield Hallam University (SHU)
i.glover@shu.ac.uk

2. What is a badge?
Visual representation of achievement,
experience, affiliation and/or interest - ideally
distinctive and understood within a community.
Some examples:

3. - Juliette G. Low,
Founder of Girl Scouts of the USA
“Badges mean nothing in themselves, but
they mark a certain achievement and
they are a link between the rich and the poor.
For when one girl sees a badge on a sister
Scout’s arm, if that girl has won the same
badge, it at once awakens an interest
and sympathy between them.”

4. Badges in Learning?
Evidence of achievement, experience,
interest, learning and development
Potential to increase motivation in some
learners
Significant interest as a method of
representing micro-credentials

5. ‘Motivation’ by Kyle Bowen (CC: By-SA)

6. Micro-credentials?
Lighter-weight than formal credentials, such
as degrees, certifications, etc.
Encourage development (and sharing) of a
fuller picture of an individual’s learning and
experience
Represent life-long and life-wide learning
Increasingly standardising around Mozilla’s
digital Open Badges specification

7. Open Badges?
Open technology
anyone can create, issue, receive and share badges
can collate badges from many sources
‘Cheap’ to create and issue
Potential to automate aspects of process
Bespoke badges for individuals feasible
Embedded details of what each represents
Verifiable and secure
built-in ways to check authenticity

8. ‘Open Badge Anatomy (updated)’
by Kyle Bowen (CC: By-SA)

9. Example badge from EPCC MOOC

10. How are they used?
Surface ‘hidden’ learning and development
encouraging more comprehensive reflection
Demonstrating proficiency and interests
Learner controlled vs. institutionally controlled (e.g. HEAR)
Defining ‘Learning Pathways’ and enabling students to
check progress
Sharing with:
prospective employers on LinkedIn or digital CV
friends and family via Facebook, Twitter, etc.
colleagues through appraisal, professional portfolios, etc.

11. Who’s using Open Badges?
Disney, NASA, New York Museum of Modern
Art (MoMA), Smithsonian, Purdue University,
...
Nottingham Trent University, Southampton
Solent University, University of Sheffield,
University of Sussex, University of Warwick,
York St. John University, ...
and Sheffield Hallam University

12. ‘Morton Takes a MOOC’
by Kyle Bowen (CC: By-SA)

13. With MOOCs?
Association for Learning Technology (ALT),
Cardiff University,
JISC Scotland,
Mozilla Foundation,
Open Learning Design Studio (OLDS MOOC),
Open University,
Oxford Brookes,
University of Alicante
University of Central Florida
...
and Sheffield Hallam University

14. How are they used at SHU?
Used as evidence of completing additional
(assessed) activities on our MOOCs
‘Enhancing Prostate Cancer Care’ and ‘Conversations
in End of Life Care’
One badge per topic (one topic per week)
Collecting full set and submitting an
integrative reflection for assessment = APAL
for related module on Masters programme

15. ‘Carpet Badging’
by Kyle Bowen (CC: By-SA)

16. Where do I start?
Sign-up for an existing platform
e.g. Credly.com, Mozilla Backpack
Use features built into learning platforms
e.g. Blackboard, PebblePad

17. Badges at TELFest

18. Some Further Information
What are Open Badges? [blog post]
Open Badges: Using 'Lightweight' Rewards and
Credentials to Increase Motivation and Participation
[slides]
Open Badges: a visual learner-centric approach to
recognising achievement [Blog Post]
Towards the Devolution of Lifewide Learning Awards
through Verifiable Digital Badges [Book Chapter]
or, email i.glover@shu.ac.uk to discuss