{"id":8413,"date":"2020-11-09T15:51:36","date_gmt":"2020-11-09T15:51:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.edgehill.ac.uk\/learningedge\/?p=8413"},"modified":"2020-11-09T15:51:37","modified_gmt":"2020-11-09T15:51:37","slug":"we-dont-need-no-stinkin-badges-do-we","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edgehill.ac.uk\/learningedge\/2020\/11\/09\/we-dont-need-no-stinkin-badges-do-we\/","title":{"rendered":"We don’t need no stinkin’ badges! Do we???"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Today I\u2019m going to discuss badges, and nope, not the ones which are worn and collected by boy or girl Scouts, I\u2019m talking about the digital type, though it would be wise to point out that digital badges are actually somewhat modelled after this type of Scout badging system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similar to a physical badge, which signifies the completion of a task or an acquired skill level, digital badges can be used to visually display a wide variety of skills and competencies online. Digital badges also take principles from video game design as they can be used as a reward for completion of a task or a means to unlock additional tasks (that must be completed in sequential order).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, now that we know a little more about what digital badges are, why would we want to use them in higher education? Well, there has been a significant amount of research over the past ten years. With interest in how digital badges expand online student motivation, engagement, tracking, and an overall sense of achievement and recognition. Throw all of this in the mix and then add a pinch of the current world climate and we have a fairly strong basis to enhance our virtual learning environment (VLE) with the use of digital badges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As an institution, we utilise Blackboard as our VLE, which means every member of staff has the option to incorporate digital badges into their courses. Although one major detail that I need to make clear is that Blackboard\u2019s offering of digital badges is officially referred to as \u2018Blackboard Achievements\u2019<\/strong> \u2013 that\u2019s probably really important to point out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, whenever you hear the term digital badges and blackboard \u2013 all you need to remember is the \u2018Blackboard Achievements\u2019 tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So “how do they work”?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Firstly, with the Blackboard Achievement tool, you can designate a multitude of different criteria for issuing digital badges to students directly from each of your courses. Essentially the achievements tool allows you to create and then define any \u201ctriggers\u201d or actions that students must complete in their course to be awarded a badge of your design. Some of the common activities that can be used as \u201ctriggers\u201d are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n