This course will become read-only in the near future. Tell us at community.p2pu.org if that is a problem.

Introduction


So you want to issue open badges?

Badges 102: Quick Issuing was developed to help individuals and institutions learn more about the ‘issuing’ side of open badges (aka- ‘presenting badges to learners’). In this short course we’ll cover a few things: 1) we’ll briefly cover how the badge process works (in basic terms), 2) next, we’ll briefly take a look at what it means to be a ‘badge earner’, 3) then, you will learn how to easily issue badges using an existing ‘OBI partner’, and 4) you will create your own manual for your learners to earn the badges. You will finish with two final products upon your successful completion: a badge to issue in your selected location and a manual to give to your learners.

Before we begin:

  1. Terminology and Prerequisites: If any of the terminology in this brief summary seemed unfamiliar, please be sure to a) consider taking Badges 101: What are Open Badges and 2) review the Glossary list below.
  2. How to earn the ‘Badges 102 Badge’: You will also be required to turn in your final products at the end of the course which will qualify you
  3. Taking Notes: We ask that along the way you take some notes in a place where you can easily recap the content when it comes time for the final project. You may wish to consider using Twitter to tweet out to #schoolofbadges, using a Google Doc or setting up a Google Site to organize your thoughts, or create a blog in a space like Google Blogger to blog your notes. Feel free to reference your notes in the forums, if you are posting them in a public location.

Glossary:

  • Open Badges (Badges)- An open badge is a digital symbol of personal achievement that displays the work that ‘badge earner’ had to do to receive the badge from the ‘badge issuer’. “A graphic file (PNG) that contains validation information about the Issuer, Earner, etc.” “A “badge” is a digital symbol of recognition that complies with the Open Badge specification. Badges are useful in representing many things such as experiences, achievements, skills, competencies, learning, associations, community involvement, peer interaction, etc.” 
  • Badge Earner- Someone who earns a badge. “People who perform tasks and earn a badge.”
  • Badge Issuer- Someone who delivers a badge. “Organizations that issue badges.”
  • OBI partner- An organization that has made it easy to issue badges via their Web site. An organization partnered with Mozilla.


Discussion Prompt:

  1. Give us your best one liner- who are you, where are you from, what are your interests?
  2. Did you develop a public location for taking notes? Let us know where it is!

Credit: All quotes on this page- https://wiki.mozilla.org/Thunderbird:Open_Badges#Glossary

Task Discussion


  • Kerstin Namuth said:

    1. Educator in Swedish liberal ad ed, moodler, game-lover with a strong belief in self-driven learning and non-formal/informal learning.

    2. I am not a note-taker either. My and my colleagues' thoughts on badgets are partly in Twitter discussions and in a padlet. An aritcle to kick off a, hopefully, bigger project will be published in www.reflex.folkbildning.net in January and will, hopefully, be followed up by Facebook and Twitter diskussions.

    I think badges have great potential for showcasing development, skills, achievement and for motivating learners and their teachers. Badges could be one - structured - way of enhancing learning through playful elements.

    on Dec. 30, 2013, 7:30 a.m.
  • Pelle said:

    1. I work with making and spreading films with good examples of teaching methods in the schools of Stockholm. We want our contributors to develop ther blogging skills, reach further out and get more readers.


    2. I am not the note taking kind of person. I have a doucument but I doubt anyone would have any interest in that :-) So far just two words in it.

    on Dec. 5, 2013, 3:44 a.m.
  • ToddP said:

    I travel out of Atlanta Ga. As a 14 year Adjunct Faculty for two universities I want to be able to issue badges for students. I can see the value of digital badges and eportfolios in presenting  learning path that will have more value than current grades, diplomas, and certificates.

    I will post notes at http://toddsbadges.blogspot.com/

    on Aug. 1, 2013, 6:01 p.m.

    Leah MacVie said:

    Welcome Todd! You are right on track with your thoughts about badges. I think some employers will be quicker than others to adopt this new 'learning currency', though. It will be up to folks like us to help spread the concept. Keep blogging about it!!

    on Aug. 7, 2013, 8 a.m. in reply to ToddP
  • Sara Mörtsell said:

    Hi everyone! 

    1. I’m a Swedish educator who's into informal and connected learning and currently involved with setting up a MOOC where I think open badges is the only recognition that can capture the diversity of learning outcomes and experience.

     

    2. I'm sorting out my notes here, perhaps later on in blogposts smiley
    on July 4, 2013, 12:42 p.m.

    Leah MacVie said:

    Hi Sara- welcome! I was just speaking to a friend of mine from Sweden yesterday about the difference between the Swedish education system and the American system. I believe that Sweden and Finland will both lead the way in the next paradigm of education- you folks just do it right up there! I will be interested to hear about your MOOC progress...keep us posted!

    on Aug. 7, 2013, 8:02 a.m. in reply to Sara Mörtsell
  • Jason said:

    1. I'm a community college elearning administrator interested in how open badges can help more people learn more.

    2  I'll probably post notes here.

    on June 13, 2013, 10:50 p.m.
  • Peter Pasque said:

    Give us your best one liner- who are you, where are you from, what are your interests?

    Hi I’m Pete from Ann Arbor, MI and I’m interested in regaining the level of excitement, interest, and exploration in secondary & adult learners as demonstrated by early elementary students.


    Did you develop a public location for taking notes? Let us know where it is!

    I look forward to learning with everyone in this course, my notes can be accessed here.

    on June 10, 2013, 11:16 a.m.
  • Jenny said:

    Give us your best one liner- who are you, where are you from, what are your interests?

        I'm Jenny.  I live in Warren Mighigan, which borders the North side of Detroit. I enjoy reading, playing piano, art, and animals.
         
        So, obviously you have a reason for taking this challenge. Perhaps you are just curious about badges to use in a certain context or you have a project already started that you’d like to offer badges through. Give us some insight into why you’d like to issue badges- maybe we can help!

        I want to see if the badges wiill actually motivate me to learn.
         
        Did you develop a public location for taking notes? Let us know where it is!

    https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pOshMDWOOogtkZL5FpXyCChoLKSpEa66CMbCaY9pbro/edit?usp=sharing

    on April 25, 2013, 10:56 a.m.

    Leah MacVie said:

    Interesting goal Jenny. You may be interested in taking 101, as well. :)

    on April 25, 2013, 7:26 p.m. in reply to Jenny
  • ToddF said:

    My daughter Jenny joined this course, but is unable to post to the disussion.  Any idea how she can join us?

    on April 25, 2013, 10:01 a.m.

    Leah MacVie said:

    Hey Todd- looks like she found her way! She DOES have to log in before she is able to post.... possibly that was the problem. :)

    on April 25, 2013, 7:24 p.m. in reply to ToddF

    ToddF said:

    Yes, she needed to hit the confirmation in the email before she could post.

    on May 9, 2013, 7:24 a.m. in reply to Leah MacVie
  • ToddF said:



        Give us your best one liner- who are you, where are you from, what are your interests?

        I'm Todd.  I live in Warren Mighigan, which borders the North side of Detroit. I'm interested in gamifying educational systems to enhance learning.
         
        So, obviously you have a reason for taking this challenge. Perhaps you are just curious about badges to use in a certain context or you have a project already started that you’d like to offer badges through. Give us some insight into why you’d like to issue badges- maybe we can help!

        I want to learn from others how rewards (badges in particular) are best used to motivate.
         
        Did you develop a public location for taking notes? Let us know where it is!

        I will post my notes here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kxIJWjMvq4iMvKOpib0GHma9aJ6bZyY4pKFDTanLzFw/edit?usp=sharing
         
     

    on April 13, 2013, 9:18 a.m.

    Leah MacVie said:

    Thanks for sharing Todd- and welcome to our newest challenge in the series!

    on April 25, 2013, 7:24 p.m. in reply to ToddF
  • Peter Rawsthorne said:

    1. Give us your best one liner- who are you, where are you from, what are your interests?

      I'm Peter, from an island off the west coast of Canada (seriously). I'm interested in finding ways to encourage the self-direct adult learner (heutagogue).
       
    2. So, obviously you have a reason for taking this challenge. Perhaps you are just curious about badges to use in a certain context or you have a project already started that you’d like to offer badges through. Give us some insight into why you’d like to issue badges- maybe we can help!

      I'm building the Badge System Design challenge and I'm building an Open and Networked PhD challenge. I'd like to issue badges through both challenges and for other activities of merit.
       
    3. Did you develop a public location for taking notes? Let us know where it is!

      I will post my notes here; http://criticaltechnology.blogspot.ca/
       
    on Feb. 21, 2013, 8:27 p.m.

    Leah MacVie said:

    Thanks for joining us Peter (and proofing this me)! Onward...

    on April 25, 2013, 7:25 p.m. in reply to Peter Rawsthorne