This document discusses the use of social badges in institutional learning platforms. It introduces Mozilla OpenBadges and describes a study where automatic badges were awarded to kids who liked receiving badges. Different concepts for badges are presented, including ones awarded by institutions and users, with recommenders supporting badges. The document proposes a role-playing activity to experiment with badges and recommends the SAPO Campus platform to see badges in action. Feedback is requested on allowing open badge creation and recommendation to blend formal and informal learning while managing risks like cyberbullying.

1. Social badges dynamics in
institutional supported
platforms
Interactive Session, The PLE Conference, Berlin, 12 july 2013
Carlos Santos, Luís Pedro, Sara Almeida and Mónica Aresta
University of Aveiro, Portugal
Trabalho financiado por fundos FEDER através do Programa Operacional Factores de
Competitividade – COMPETE e por Fundos Nacionais através da FCT – Fundação para a
Ciência e a Tecnologia no âmbito do projeto PTDC/CPE-CED/114130/2009.

3. Introducing badges
• PLE Conference’12 Aveiro
• Mozilla OpenBadges
• Pros: good to learn
• Cons:
• administration tasks
nightmare
• activity stream overflow

4. Tutorial badges

5. Tutorial badges
• Automatic attribution
• 4 steps for each badge
• Small research study
• kids liked a lot the badges
• they want more!
• but want to keep institutional roles???

6. Looking for other
examples...

7. Main Concept (OpenBadges)

8. Main Concept
issuer learner backpack
reputation
recognition
competences

9. SAPO Campus approach
• Explore badges for:
• social dimension
• engagement
• communication
• participation
• personal contribution

10. User-generated badges concept
institution
learner
+
issuer
backpack
reputation
recognition
competences
social
engagement
communication
participation
personal contribution

11. Peer-support for badges attribution
concept
issuer
learner
+
issuer
+
recommender
backpack
decision making support
no need to follow everything
informal content
community engagement

12. Badge support/endorsement concept
issuer
learner
+
issuer
+
recommender
backpack
how much support?
who supports?
social dynamics

13. Let’s try it!!!
• PLE Conference discussion (Role playing) - 30
minutes
• Admins: Cristina, Ricardo
• Badges to win, recommend and support?
• Different topic per group
• badges!
• Final presentation

14. See it in action in SAPO
Campus
• http://campus.sapo.pt (homepage)
• http://pleconf.campus.sapo.pt (DIY)

15. Have your say...
• New functionalities
• allow anyone to create and recommend a badge
• allow to upload badge images
• Opportunities
• peer-assessment
• formal/informal blending
• motivation/participation/engagement
• Risks
• cyber-bullying