This presentation explores how to build a workplace learning culture using open badges. Now that open badges have been around for a few years in Moodle, many papers and case studies exist about badge use in educational institutions, but far less exists about using badges in the workplace. However we are now beginning to see the first case studies of workplace badging systems emerging in the Moodle world and beyond, and we explore some of these in this session. Largely through exploring examples of how others have implemented badging systems in the workplace, we will look at what a successful badging system looks like, what went well in these implementations but also what didn't go so well and how users reacted to the implementation of badging programmes. This is a great opportunity to see what you can do with open badges in the workplace.

1. FOLLOW US @leolearning
Using badges for workplace
learning
Mark Aberdour
Platform Solutions Manager
@maberdour

2. Introduction
Moodle adopted Mozilla Open
Badges standard in 2013
Open Badges gaining momentum
across sectors
Research into open badges in the
workplace for Springer book out
Summer 2016
Web research and phone
interviews with badge
implementers
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3. Original source of publication
Foundation of Digital Badges and
Micro-Credentials
Demonstrating and Recognizing
Knowledge and Competencies
Editors: Ifenthaler, Dirk, Bellin-Mularski,
Nicole, Mah, Dana-Kristin
ISBN 978-3-319-15424-4
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4. Workplaces using badges

5. Use of badges for recruitment
Hull City College – Employability
Skills Seal
HCG want employers in their area to be asking to see the
Employability Seal as part of their recruitment process.
Badges for Vets
Translates military skills into civilian skills. Funded by
MacArthur Foundation who also funded the Moodle Open
Badges implementation
Newport City Homes
Housing Association trainee employability programme that
has built in strong reputation in its region.
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6. Use of badges for workforce training
National Health Service
UK’s largest employer
Pilot in two regions
Badge accredited by Health Education
England
Informal and formal learning
experiences collected via xAPI LRS
Reflective statements from learners
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7. Use of badges for compliance and
certification
RWA Group
Regulatory training and compliance awards, badges for
learning and assessment, plus learner of month awards.
10,000 badges issued by April 2015.
IBM
Using badges to demonstrate proficiency in IBM technology
and solutions, and for completion of certification paths.
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8. Use of badges for professional
development
Scottish Social Services Council
188,000 staff, nice use of badge suites, e.g. Bronze for
attending event, Silver for reflective followup submission,
Gold for evidencing behaviour change.
Highland and Moray Accredited
Training Services (HiMATS)
Follows SSSC model: Bronze for event attendance, Silver
for assessment pass, Gold for reflective writing.
EDUCAUSE
Using badges to reward individuals for engagement with
the professional body and its community. 2,500 badge
awards via Credly / LinkedIn.
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9. What went well in implementations
Audiences seem very receptive to using badges
and see the value in them.
Badge programmes have help build strong
reputations for organisational training
programmes within sectors or regions.
Badges are an effective enabler for evidencing
behaviour change
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10. What didn’t go well in implementations
Uptake of sharing badges into backbacks, web
pages or social media is often very low, users need
support here.
Badge sharing sites may be blocked by employers’
social media bans.
Marketing and communication effort is often
underestimated.
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11. The need for evidence of change
Elearning Guild surveyed 1,500 L&D
professionals:
84% tracked course completion
50% tracked reaction and learning
20% measured behavior change
26% measured results

12. Key takeaway: badges work as evidence of
change
Badges being used for reflective writing and
evidence of behaviour change
SSSC model: Bronze for completing training, Silver
for reflective statement, Gold for evidencing
behaviour change
Voluntarily submitted by learners, not collected by
management.
Straight to Kirkpatrick Level 3
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13. Top tips
Appoint a badge leader
Don’t skimp on marketing and communications
Do a small scale pilot
Automate badge awards
Build a badge support site (see http://badges.sssc.uk.com)
Measure badge views and shares with analytics tools
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14. Further case study reading
Armstrong, E. (2015). Open Badge: HCUK Employability Skills Seal project– JISC Advance FE and Skills
Programme: Final report. Hull: Hull College Group.
EDUCAUSE Badging Program. (2015, June 10). Retrieved from EDUCAUSE.edu:
http://www.educause.edu/badging
IBM Open Badge Program. (2015, 06 29). Retrieved from IBM Authorized Training - Worldwide:
http://www.ibm.com/services/learning/badges
Price, B. (2015). A simple introduction to Open Badges. Cardiff: Bob Price.
Price, R. (2014, October 15). How One of the Largest Employers in the World is Using Tin Can. Retrieved from
Tin Can API: http://tincanapi.com/2014/10/15/one-largest-employers-world-using-tin-can/
RWA. (2015, 06 26). Badge Rewards. Retrieved from Aviva Development Zone:
http://mydevelopment.zone/features/badge-rewards/
SSSC Open Badges. (2015, 06 29). Retrieved from SSSC Open Badges: http://badges.sssc.uk.com/
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15. leolearning.com
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