Slides for presentation given at the CUA e-Learning Symposium in IT Sligo on 16th January 2020.

1. DIGITAL OPEN
BADGES IN GMIT
W H AT A R E T H E Y ?
Wayne Gibbons MEd MSc

2. INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL BADGES
• What is a Digital Badge?
• How can Digital Badges be used in Higher Education?
• What impact have Digital Badges had in Civil Engineering?
KEY QUESTIONS
Wayne Gibbons MEd MSc

3. WHAT IS A BADGE?
Wayne Gibbons MEd MSc
[CC SA Elizabeth
Goodspeed]

4. Wayne Gibbons MEd MSc
[CC SA Wikimedia
Commons]

5. Wayne Gibbons MEd MSc
[CC BY-NC-SA Leo
Reynolds]

6. Wayne Gibbons MEd MSc [Credit: The Sunday

7. SO, WE HAVE HAD VARIOUS BADGES
FOR A LONG TIME…….
Wayne Gibbons MEd MSc
[CC BY Lyncconf
Games]

8. BEING DIGITAL MEANS THE BADGE IS
MORE THAN JUST A PRETTY PICTURE
Wayne Gibbons MEd MSc

9. Image CC BY-SA Kyle
Bowen
Wayne Gibbons MEd MSc

10. HOW CAN DIGITAL OPEN BADGES BE
USED IN HIGHER EDUCATION?
Let’s start by saying that the possibilities are endless
Some examples include:
• Adding value to assessment feedback
• Micro-credentialing aspects of a module
• Acknowledging learner behaviour that may otherwise go unrecognised
• Motivating learners to engage in social activities
• As a stepping stone into employment
• All of the above have happened already in GMIT!
You can be as creative as you like in how you use digital badges.
Wayne Gibbons MEd MSc

11. Blake Mycoskie
TOMS ShoesWayne Gibbons MEd MSc

12. [7]Wayne Gibbons MEd MSc

13. [CC BY-SA Alan Levin]Wayne Gibbons MEd MSc

14. SO, HOW HAS ALL OF THIS BEEN USED IN
GMIT, AND WHAT ARE THE OUTCOMES?
• Phase 1 study addressed the question about what different
stakeholders feel about badges, which ones to include and why they
should be used
• Result of Phase 1 is a “Starter Pack” of digital open badges
• Phase 2 focused on the implementation of this “Starter Pack”, with the
aim of investigating the impact of the badges on the learning
environment
Wayne Gibbons MEd MSc

15. Digital Badge Starter Pack
CAD 2017-18
Wayne Gibbons MEd MSc

16. Wayne Gibbons MEd MSc

17. Open to all grades over
80%
Wayne Gibbons MEd MSc

18. Open to all grades over
80%
Only available to best grade
student
Wayne Gibbons MEd MSc

19. Open to all grades over
80%
Open to all with grade
improvement.
Only available to best grade
student
Wayne Gibbons MEd MSc

20. Open to all grades over
80%
Open to all with grade
improvement.
Open to all with ipsative
improvement.
Only available to best grade
student
Wayne Gibbons MEd MSc

21. Open to all grades over
80%
Open to all with grade
improvement.
Open to all with ipsative improvement. Only available to best grade
student
Open to all by
nomination.
Wayne Gibbons MEd MSc

22. Open to all grades over
80%
Open to all with grade
improvement.
Open to all with ipsative improvement. Only available to best grade
student
Open to all by
nomination.
Mystery
badges!
Wayne Gibbons MEd MSc

23. Open to all grades over
80%
Open to all with grade
improvement.
Open to all with ipsative improvement. Only available to best grade
student
Open to all by
nomination.
Mystery
badges!
Wayne Gibbons MEd MSc

24. Wayne Gibbons MEd MSc

25. Wayne Gibbons MEd MSc

26. Wayne Gibbons MEd MSc

27. KEY FINDINGS FROM PHASE 2
Wayne Gibbons MEd MSc
• All stakeholder groups recognise multiple values for the badges
• 13 roles have been identified
• 7 enablers for participation have been identified
• Badges are generally seen as a positive addition to the module
• The students report changing behaviour as a result of badges
• Motivation in terms of interest/enjoyment has been shown to significantly increase
over the timespan when the badges were implemented
• Certain badges have been identified as vital to future implementation

28. ROLES AND ENABLERS
Wayne Gibbons MEd MSc
• Roles of digital open badges:
• Increases engagement and motivation
• Maps progress through the module
• Generates interest in the module
• Reassures ability for students
• Indicates potential to perform better
• Proves capabilities in areas not graded
• Signifies prestige
• Proves reliability
• Marks respect from peers
• Encourages altruism
• Provides confidence boost
• Vehicle for cultural change
• Prepares for ongoing CPD post-graduation
• Enablers of participation in the scheme:
• Consultation with all stakeholders at design
stage
• Consultation with students before and after
implementation
• Ensure all students have opportunity to
obtain at least some digital open badges
• Allow students to make peer nominations
for badge award
• Include a variety of ways that badges can
be earned
• Afford control to the students
• Review and modify as required

29. Wayne Gibbons MEd MSc
[CC BY-NC Drew McLellan]

30. DIGITAL OPEN BADGES
AT GMIT WORKSHOP
• The workshop is
designed to help you
get to grips with what
digital open badges
are, what they can be
used for, why they
are important and
how you can use
software to create,
issue and manage
digital badges
yourself.
Wayne Gibbons MEd MSc[CC BY Jim

31. RESOURCES
https://www.hastac.org/initiatives/digital-badges
https://openbadges.org/
http://www.badgealliance.org/
https://badge.wiki/wiki/Main_Page
Wayne Gibbons MEd MSc

32. CONTACT ME
Email: wayne.gibbons@gmit.ie
Phone: 091 742429
Website: www.about.me/waynegibbons
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheWayneGibbons
Mastodon: https://scholar.social/@TheWayneGibbons
Note: images not credited in the slides are my own work.
Please ask if you wish to re-use at any stage.
Wayne Gibbons MEd MSc