Do they stink? Do we need them?

Badges

It has been said often enough (and people always get the quote wrong)

an emblem that signifies status

badge, n.

an insignia or device… to indicate special achievement

merit badge, n.

web badges (for this

conversation) are really merit badges

But as web badges track achievements…

Note: actual badge really only looks like this !!but still has only been awarded 132 times(!!!)

… like diplomas they’re only worth as much as what they’re for & who issued them (I bet you already have the skills needed to evaluate many of these badges & badge issuers)

Best practices are being established

rubrics should come to the party

What’s the more/most useful gamificationization for higher ed? the classroom?

quick thought experiment:

COMPLETED A DEGREE PROGRAM

UNDERGRADUATEDACHIEVED A GPA OF

3.8 OR HIGHER

Perfect Attendance & Class Participation Grade

HANDS UP!Has Completed 5 Or More

Evening Classes

NIGHT OWL

AIS FOR AWESOME

OH, THAT KID

!MY GOD, IT’S FULL OF... BADGES? !How to Earn Your Skeptic “Badge” !Better Prior Learning Assessment Can Be Higher Education’s Merit Badge !How Badges Really Work in Higher Education !The Gamification of Eductation Infographic !How Gamification Uncovers Nuance In The Learning Process !7 Things You Should Know About Badges !Better Futures for 2 Million Americans Through Open Badges

further (links)

Commercial version of Mozilla OpenBadges that includes issuing & creation tools

Wordpress plugin that supports creation and issuing of badges via OpenBadges, Badgestack & Credly )

other players in the badgespace