What is a Digital Badge?
What is a digital badge?
A digital badge is an online representation of a skill or accomplishment that can be displayed, accessed, and verified online. The badges issued at ESC Region 13 utilize the open badge standard, which allows users to verify the criteria for earning a badge. This information is hard-coded into the badge and provides details about what the badge represents, how it was earned, when it was issued, and who issued the badge.
How do you earn a badge?
Learners can earn badges in a variety of ways, ranging from badges earned for participating in an event to badges earned for completing a rigorous credentialing or certification program.
A badge can be awarded for a variety of achievements, such as:
- Engagement or participation in an event or activity
- Demonstrated competency or skill development
- Membership with an organization
- Course completion
- Formal certification
Upon earning a badge, learners can share their badges on social media, professional profiles, email signatures, or anywhere else on the web where a learner might want to display their accomplishments or the steps they have taken in their professional development. Wherever a badge might be shared, it is always linked back to the information and evidence that substantiates the badge’s credibility.
Below are a few examples of badges issued by ESC Region 13. Click on the badge to view a summary of what each badge represents and the criteria a learner must meet to earn the badge.
Why badges? Why now?
As the culture of lifelong learning and the demands of the workforce continue to evolve, a learner’s portfolio of digital badges can shed light on the interests, skills, and capabilities one might have and show the steps a learner has taken to meet the demands of their field of work.
The portfolio of badges a learner has earned paints a more specific and granular picture of their skill set that is not normally captured in traditional paper certificates or diplomas.
The combination of different badges and the verifiable data encoded into them are what make badges such a powerful tool. Learners and organizations can easily display, share, and recognize a person’s qualifications and achievements through a digital badge.