2/3 Assessment of ODL: Digital Microcredentials and Credentials (Badges)

2/3 Assessment of ODL: Digital Microcredentials and Credentials (Badges)

by Randall Gwin -
Number of replies: 18

One of the biggest concerns about ODL is that people might cheat. 

How can you make sure that someone you never met face-to-face is actually doing the work they say they're doing in an online course? Or, to make it more personal, if I teach this course again, how can I be sure the students in that course aren't just paying you to do the work for them? 

My research has shown that this is one of the biggest concerns amonag EdTech researchers and leaders in the developing world. (See theLiterature Review section.)

But, is it possible that digital technology could let you be even more certain of someone's ability at a skill than a traditional diploma would be? The answer lies in Digital Microcredentials, or Digital Badges.

If you chose this topic, I'd like you to consider ways digital microcredentials or badges could help - or cause problems - in your specific educational situations.

Start with the following resources. 

  1. What are digital badges?
  2. Understanding microcredentials 
  3. The Future Will Be Decentralized 
  4. Gwin, R.W., & Foggin, J.M. (2019), Badging for sustainable development: Applying EdTech micro-credentials for advancing SDGs amongst mountain and pastoralist societies
  5. Finally, try making some badges for your colleagues using the free tool Badgr.com 

Then, show us a Pecha-Kucha or TikTok series (See the instructions here.) that shows us the most important concepts that we should know, as digital pedogogues. 

After your Pecha-Kucha or TikTok series, give us some thought-provoking questions (especially, think of how you could apply this in your cultural context). 

Finally, monitor the discussion by replying quickly and challenging us to learn more! 


In reply to Randall Gwin

Re: 2/3 Assessment of ODL: Digital Microcredentials and Credentials (Badges)

by Parisa Alami -
PechaKucha presentations are used to explain the digital badge.

To access the link, just click on the digital badge below.

Digital badges

In reply to Parisa Alami

Re: 2/3 Assessment of ODL: Digital Microcredentials and Credentials (Badges)

by Parisa Alami -
I made your badge using an online badge creator (Badge maker). 
You may use this to make your badges or any other badge maker you choose.

your badges
In reply to Parisa Alami

Re: 2/3 Assessment of ODL: Digital Microcredentials and Credentials (Badges)

by Fahim Faqdani -
Thank you for the nice badges you made for us.
In reply to Parisa Alami

Re: 2/3 Assessment of ODL: Digital Microcredentials and Credentials (Badges)

by Deleted user -
I have made this badge for encouraging students for each positive action.
In reply to Deleted user

Re: 2/3 Assessment of ODL: Digital Microcredentials and Credentials (Badges)

by Deleted user -

.

Attachment Adobe_Express_20230206_0022190_1.png
In reply to Deleted user

Re: 2/3 Assessment of ODL: Digital Microcredentials and Credentials (Badges)

by Parisa Alami -
You did a good job Parisa, the badge you created is really practical and useful, Thank you for sharing your badge with us.
In reply to Parisa Alami

Re: 2/3 Assessment of ODL: Digital Microcredentials and Credentials (Badges)

by Harira Amani -
I really liked the badge you have made for me, and I will use it for sure.
In reply to Harira Amani

Re: 2/3 Assessment of ODL: Digital Microcredentials and Credentials (Badges)

by Parisa Alami -
Thank you for the positive feedback Harira.
In reply to Parisa Alami

Re: 2/3 Assessment of ODL: Digital Microcredentials and Credentials (Badges)

by Randall Gwin -
Parisa,
You really mastered the art of Pecha-Kucha - and you taught us about badges at the same time!

Digital badges are especially interesting for me because I think they could help reduce corruption in educational systems, and they could help people who don't attend traditional schools to show their knowledge to the world.

For instance, one of my friends, Dr. Marc Foggin, is working with me to find ways that pastorlists in Central Asia, including northern Afghanistan, could demonstrate skills through videos, embed the videos into badges, and increase the likelihood of ecotourists visiting their regions. Also, my wife, a family practice doctor, is working with me to find ways that local nurses and midwives could record their skills on videos, embed the videos in a badge, and build their digital CV. 

There are a lot of possibilities with badges if the cultures of Central Asia will accept them as valid. 
In reply to Parisa Alami

Re: 2/3 Assessment of ODL: Digital Microcredentials and Credentials (Badges)

by Parisa Alami -
What are your thoughts on the significance of employing badges in any organization?
In reply to Parisa Alami

Re: 2/3 Assessment of ODL: Digital Microcredentials and Credentials (Badges)

by Deleted user -
I believe that badges are the most important element of any organization. It is the identity of an organization. If you come across an organization from its badges you can understand what the organization is about. It gives you basic information about the organization. Therefore, the badges should be chosen thoughtfully, because it is the first step towards impressing the people. Thank you for the nice presentation dear Parisa
In reply to Deleted user

Re: 2/3 Assessment of ODL: Digital Microcredentials and Credentials (Badges)

by Deleted user -
I loved the badges that you made for all of us. Thank you :)
In reply to Deleted user

Re: 2/3 Assessment of ODL: Digital Microcredentials and Credentials (Badges)

by Parisa Alami -
Exactly, Mursal, the same as you said, badges are an important element in organizations and can show us the basic information about that organization, so each corporation should think very carefully when choosing their badge and choose an effective badge. From here, we can understand that it is not only important to make a badge, but it is more important to choose the best and effective one.
In reply to Parisa Alami

Re: 2/3 Assessment of ODL: Digital Microcredentials and Credentials (Badges)

by Sohaib Rahiq -
Employing badges in an organization has both its advantages and disadvantages.
The significance of badges in the workplace is contingent on how they are used and how they are received by staff. Badges may have both positive and negative effects on an organization, so it's crucial for leaders to weigh the pros and downsides before deciding how to use them.
In reply to Sohaib Rahiq

Re: 2/3 Assessment of ODL: Digital Microcredentials and Credentials (Badges)

by Parisa Alami -
Thank you for your opinion; as you pointed out , badges may have both advantages and disadvantages, and I agree that the importance of badges in the workplace depends on how they are used and received by employees.
In reply to Parisa Alami

Re: 2/3 Assessment of ODL: Digital Microcredentials and Credentials (Badges)

by Parisa Alami -
Let's set a challenge here: using various tools, create any badge and post it, and then vote for the best badge maker among us.
In reply to Parisa Alami

Re: 2/3 Assessment of ODL: Digital Microcredentials and Credentials (Badges)

by Fahim Faqdani -

Here I have made a badge to give my students whenever they have done a good job inside the classroom.

Attachment My project-1 (1).png
In reply to Fahim Faqdani

Re: 2/3 Assessment of ODL: Digital Microcredentials and Credentials (Badges)

by Parisa Alami -
You did a good job; the badge you created is really practical and useful, and this kind of badge inspires us and other teachers to consider various ideas on creating various badges for our students in accordance with their performance. Thank you for sharing your badge with us.