In several of our blog posts this year, we have talked about ways to encourage active learning in face-to-face, hybrid, and online courses. We have shared several strategies to use within the classroom environment. But what about a strategy that will stretch beyond the classroom and help students build their digital resume or portfolio? Digital badges can help!
Digital badges continue to capture the interest of educators as another strategy to promote active learning and student engagement. What are badges? EDUCAUSE (in their ELI publication – 7 Things You Should Know About Badges) described badges as visual representations of an achievement or skill that appear as a logo or icon on a webpage or other online venue. Badges can reflect a number of milestones or accomplishments including specific competencies attained, projects completed, or awards won.
Many believe that badges have the potential to be an effective active learning strategy that can motivate students as well as provide detailed evidence related to their specific accomplishments. What are your thoughts on using digital badges as an active learning strategy? Have you implemented or considered implementing badges as part of the courses you teach?
To learn more about digital badges and how they are being used in education check out the following resources:
A Future Full of Badges
http://chronicle.com/article/A-Future-Full-of-Badges/131455/
Using Badges in the Classroom to Motivate Learning
Badging from Within
How Badges Really Work in Higher Education
Image obtained from https://credlyapp.s3.amazonaws.com/badges/70058c1694e46bdc5f0990818152acc6_15.png
UTHSC's Teaching & Learning Center 