Respond to one of the "What do you think?" questions on this page, or post your own question. Include your name with your post. by Dan Grafton

Anita

anita_heitz — 2016-02-01 19:18:20 UTC

I think that badges are worth collecting. I could see how students would be motivated as their number of badges grew. It is a good reminder of how far they have come and what they have accomplished throughout a course or a program etc.

Jason

2016-02-02 02:12:36 UTC

#3

So long as the evidence presented by the badge can be verified as legitimate then, yes, badges can be at least as good as traditional credentials. Organizations deciding to accept badges may come together to determine standards for badge issuance, however.

Caleb

2016-02-02 02:18:37 UTC

#3

I do not feel that badges will ever be help with the same regard as traditional credentials. The evidence that supports badges if from a wholly online source, with skills that are also exclusively demonstrated online. Too many school and employers need indications of skills that are better evaluated in person, not through digital means.

The only way I could see them being as successful if with the creation of a centrally-based, well respected 'badge manager.' This organization would vette badges much the same way accreditation boards evaluate educational institutions.

Jeff

2016-02-02 02:42:46 UTC

#4
I think scaffolding is really representative for me. I believe students would feel great about getting better and better at something. It it a great reminder of what's been done and demonstrate the knowledges acquired.

Matthew

2016-02-02 02:56:32 UTC

#1 and #5...

I think that if badges are to establish themselves and develop any sort of credibility, they need to be able to persist in some sort of "eportfolio" context so that they retain value beyond the context in which they are earned, and also need to recognize skills that are transferable from one situation to another.

Danny

2016-02-02 05:36:20 UTC

#3 Evidence Rich

I think I like what Jason said. I think the evidence needs to be verified, but this comes from the teacher developing the badge.

I think this great, I'm not sure they could translate well outside of the class they are in. But, if developed within an institute it could work.

Natalie

2016-02-02 21:11:28 UTC

# 2 Transportable

I think that the ability to earn a badge in one context and have its credibility recognized in another could be incredibly valuable. Within the context of online and blended learning, a program within which badges could be stored and easily accessed from various learning platforms, could be a great asset. Although, this may present some challenges in terms of compatibility

Coral

coralkennett — 2016-02-02 21:52:37 UTC

#3
I agree with Caleb's analysis - in order for the badge to have any kind of meaningful, transferable value there would need to be an established system of accreditation, perhaps similar to the ACE accreditation system in the US.

Daniel C

gudaniel2121 — 2016-02-03 00:49:01 UTC

#1

I think that badges are both motivating for students to want to collect them all, but I also think that the process is what matters. It all depends on how you look at it. Students might want just to collect all the badges. But I think the instructor is more concerned about the process. It is all about perspective.

Ronaye

2016-02-03 01:14:05 UTC

#1
I think the collecting of badges over time provides an opportunity for students to reflect on their learning. Taking a moment to see what has been achieved is an important step in the learning process. This process, in itself, may provide the student with the motivation to continue.

Laura

2016-02-03 03:00:07 UTC

I think that scaffolding is one of the most important here. Each learner is unique, and expecting students to earn the same badges for doing the same things attempts against that uniqueness.

Shadia

2016-02-03 20:19:57 UTC

#5
I think badges can be used for both skills and behaviours, but from an instructional design standpoint I believe they should always be tied to learning objectives.

Emily

2016-02-03 21:04:53 UTC

#5
I think that badges can and should be earned for any behaviour, skill, or accomplishment that leads students in the direction of success. For example, I think punctuality is a very important skill that should be learned and practiced by students to set them up for success, and if a badge helps students strive towards this goal, then, let's use them!

Craig

ccbrumwell — 2016-02-03 21:24:29 UTC

#3
Most employers and institutions who have an interest in viewing someone’s badges will most likely not be familiar with their criteria. Providing hyperlinked evidence allows for immediate validation of credentials while at the same time providing the opportunity for personalized comments. This granularity also provides a check on those that would falsify a badge by supplying assets that are risky to falsify because they provide a path back to the issuer

Ariane

ariane_montcalm — 2016-02-04 02:05:36 UTC

#5
The distinction between rewarding a skill vs. a behaviour with badges is interesting. Having a 4 year old son at home, I am still very much focused on rewarding behaviours (and reward systems work quite well!). I believe that badge systems may also work for behaviours, although I would limit the use of badges for this reason to younger children.

Rochelle

2016-02-04 06:05:47 UTC

#2
I think that anything that supports an interdisciplinary structure or approach to learning should be supported, so if badges can do this, then I am all for them. Badges are dependent on their credibility and though it is of great benefit to earn them within different contexts and be credited with these, there needs to be some way of monitoring and providing solid evidence of authenticity (of work, learning, and progress).

Craig F

craigferguson1 — 2016-02-04 06:19:58 UTC

#1
There is nothing more frustrating than working very hard only to see your achievements vanish. It's like the electronic equivalent of having your sandcastle destroyed by a wave. My favourite badge system is the achievements in Steam, a gaming platform. I love them because they are attached to your account, not an individual game or session - you get to keep them forever, even if you stop playing that game. All badges should be like that.

Mehdia

mehdia1 — 2016-02-04 19:22:34 UTC

#4
I am more drawn towards earning a badge as scaffolding. As I think that it gives a sense of achievement that validates their connections towards learning. This shows that learning is discoverable and it is a personalized initiative. I feel that this type of reward system is not following a formal pathway rather it supports the idea of lifelong learning.

Jesse

JesseM — 2016-02-04 22:17:02 UTC

#4
I think badges should almost specifically be non-individual. A huge portion of their effectiveness comes in the ability to recognize and understand what skills they convey. Standardization is key, and I think the individual aspect of this comes with ones "Backpack"; showcasing their own unique background.

Stephen S

spsweet — 2016-02-04 23:46:16 UTC

#5
I think it is entirely appropriate to award badges for skills or behaviours. School and teachers model teach acceptable behaviours that help contribute to a productive and just society all the time. Why not recognise when students are able to demonstrate those behaviours? It seems reasonable to be.

Shafali

2016-02-05 01:56:17 UTC

#2
What came to mind with this one was the honoring of courses taken at previous institutions within a certain time period. I took 3 previous grad courses through UofC years ago and never finished. Had I started at UBC within 5 years of taking these courses, they would have counted towards my degree. So with badges, if they are current or within a time period, why not give credit for them?

Nick

2016-02-05 03:54:26 UTC

#

Yes, badges need to measure skills in order to ensure that students meet certain expectations. However, I wouldn't go as far as to say that badges shouldn't be designed to also rewards certain behaviors. In a sub-system of badges, or badges of secondary importance, behavior-based badges could positively impact classroom management strategies.

Mariana

2016-02-05 06:24:30 UTC

#1
Collecting badges is part of the motivation learners have to complete certain tasks (aren't we all doing that right now?) I'm not sure it makes a lot of sense to keep digital badges after a course. Most likely, the course itself will disappear together with the badges. (At least in an online setting).

Troy (tslearn)

2016-02-05 09:58:27 UTC

#6: Extensible Seems like it would be difficult to achieve. There would have to be large scale adoption of badges before developers would invest in creating a standard for wide implementation.

Sayali

2016-02-05 10:13:38 UTC

#5
I think earning badges should be challenging to the learner. Awarding badges for good behaviours, which are anyways expected out of learners, might trivialize them. Demonstration of skills, on the other hand, could be challenging and the badge might feel valuable.

Haneefa

2016-02-05 15:26:28 UTC

Collectability

As humans we all love to collect something, whether it is coins, passport stamps or shoes. Everyone loves to have something they can say they have a numerous amount of and can show others this collection. This is why I think badges are a wonderful idea, they can be collected, easily displayed and to top things off learning has occurred, what more can you ask for!

Ashley

edec262_mtl — 2016-02-06 18:28:02 UTC

#4

I think badges should be the same so students can learn collectively. The personalized learning still happens (at their own pace, varied content, and examples).

Sean

2016-02-07 05:45:39 UTC

#1
I think that badges are worth collecting because it demonstrates your learning path. It is nice to look back and see how far you have come and it helps you focus on what else you accomplish.

Lisa D

2016-02-07 20:16:54 UTC

#1 I believe badges are worth collecting. Not only do they demonstrate what you have accomplished, but they also provide motivation to keep learning. The process of earning the badge is very important; if there isn’t a solid, verifiable source for the badge it will hold little value.

Zain

2016-02-24 18:07:06 UTC

Mark

lamey_m — 2017-01-25 02:16:50 UTC

#3Badges can serve as a reinforcement of learning credentials. They could provide a visual evidence in the pursuit of the skills/learning acquired. My mind went to the Proficiencies required in the pursuit of a Red Seal designation.

Tanya

2017-01-30 15:30:16 UTC

#3 Evidence Rich
I can see badges gaining credibility outside the classroom if they were issued by accredited institutions. For example, some of the best project maangers on earth are theatre stage managers. However, no one knows what they do outside of a theatre context. Now, if they could earn badges from an accredited institution, then their skills could be recognized in other industries.

I think that eventually badges will take the place of diplomas/certificates. They are a great visual to post online in social media such as LinkedIn.

2017-02-04 23:31:18 UTC

Kimberly

Kate

2017-10-29 17:05:51 UTC

I definitely agree on badging based on skills and not behaviors. Also, there has to be a universal way for being able to view badges regardless of the platform used to earn it. Saving it to a backpack is easy but how can others see the badge and the metadata attached to it? I am still trying to figure this one out.