About Badges and Gamification LKRyder Bb Achievements

What are Badges?

This video provides a short overview of badges, the Mozilla Open Badge initiative and the use of badges to document achievements in learning.

What is a Badge (from the MacArthur Foundation)

An important aspect of what makes badges so powerful is the metadata behind them. These are not just attractive and collectible images. Each one carries with it information about the issuer, the person who earned it and what they had to do to acquire it. This excerpt from the Pearson web published article Open Badges for Higher Education nicely summarizes the key aspects of Open Badges

"Open Badge metadata includes:

The defined outcomes required to earn the badge and the evidence earners provided to demonstrate their competence
The qualifications of the learning provider, credential sponsor, or issuing organization and their trustworthiness
The relationship between the badge and larger programs, professional learning pathways, and/or larger skill sets
Verification of the badge earner’s identity and relevant, secure, trusted communications about their qualifications, competencies and skills"

(Aclaim|Open Badges for Higher Education, p 3)

Read in its entirety here: (http://www.pearsonlearningsolutions.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Open-Badges-for-Higher-Education.pdf)

These aspects of badges, and in particular the Mozilla Open Badge initiative, are what make badges as alternative credentialing possible. The metadata provides the necessary detail and context for what was achieved, and authenticates the issuer and the earner's identity.

Additional important things to know about badges - 7 things actually - can be found here in the EDUCAUSE publication "7 things You should Know About Badges"

File:7Things-EDUCAUSE-badges.pdf

Understanding how badges in general work, and the larger context in which they are being deployed, discussed and debated can support Blackboard Learn Achievement tool users in creating a larger and more strategic impact with this tool. Both Blackboard Learn Achievement users and the non-LMS badge users can better understand the considerations for practice in aligning badge use with student behavioral and performance outcomes, achievements, motivation and engagement.

Gamification: What it is, what it is not, and how badges can be part of game mechanics

Badges lend themselves nicely to visible evidence to the learner of their progress through a learning path. In games they can be given as rewards for achievements - an obvious parallel to achievements in learning. For this reason though, badges in courses are dismissed by some as just another way to award gold stars. However, if basic game design principles are used, and the student is allowed to "level up" or take on challenges for badges, the badges can be more nuanced and more motivating than grades alone (or gold stars).

The difference between gamification and game-based learning

As this short post from the Teachthought blog pointed out, gamification, or the use of game mechanics in the design of a course, can be thought of as "encouragement mechanics". Their recommendations for gamification include its use

To encourage a specific response or behavior
To increase the visibility and perceived importance of otherwise “minor” and less visible actions
To promote competition; to engage students
To help students track their own progress

(Teachthought staff)

By using badges in a gamified course it is possible to turn less enjoyable tasks into voluntary challenges, encourage students to combine complex course components for extended achievements and applications, build in alternative credentialing for otherwise undocumented but important behavioral accomplishments, and perhaps even create some fun.

Badges, like grades, are an external motivator, and for some learners who are more intrinsically motivated, they can have the opposite effect of that desired. They can actually deincentivize the intrinsically motivated learner, and therefore, their role in the course should be carefully considered. Planning where badges will help and where they will hinder will be critical.

The following article explores some of the pros and cons of gamification, and can provide some assistance in thinking through your approach to badging: supplemental? achievement oriented? behavioral? instead of grades? Will it be fun? Will it be competitive? Should your badges be part of a gamification design?

The Pros and Cons of Gamification in the Classroom

A Faculty Focus article (below) that explores gamification's similarity to scaffolding and mastery learning makes some compelling arguments for using gamification, and badges could clearly be a major component in this construct.

Gamification Shows Learner Visible Signs of Learning

Badges in Teaching and Learning

As you consider your use of badges in your course design, you may find this interview about a case study combining grades and badges in a Higher Ed class useful:

Grades and Badges: Issues and strategies to consider

Also useful is this Blackboard resource that can help you identify to which aspect of the teaching and learning process you might consider adding badges:

The Lure of Badges

The publication THE Journal presents an excellent overview of some of the projects, logistics and considerations of integrating badging into a grading system. Be sure to watch the embedded video:

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Badging in the Classroom--Our Definitive Guide