Badges by (and for) Design

Have you ever used badges in your course design? 

Fellow #EME6414ers, are you thinking about using badges (i.e., after digging into this week's reading)? 

I've got to say that I'm curious to create a course around badges. And I say "around" meaningfully here, in the sense that Horstman et al (2020) discovered, or how using badges in courses "can improve program design and subsequent learner experience." 

I admit that, before reading the Horstman et al, I associated badges with learner motivation. I didn't think about the broader implications of course design, and implementing a badge system as what Horstman et al call "a conceptual, organizing framework for educational programs." 

It sounds like a lot of intentional work--and a lot of revision. A lot of potential design headaches. But it also sounds like a better framework than what, say, a LMS like Canvas offers with its Modules. I just did a quick google and it looks like Canvas offers a rudimentary badge system. The badges aren't particularly pretty or appealing--I don't think they'll appeal to many learners looking for visual motivation--but the conceptual framework, yes. I like that Canvas is joining the badge party. 

Comments

  1. Omer ArslanJune 7, 2021 at 7:38 AM

    I also enjoyed reading that article!

    I didn’t know that Canvas is offering a badge system. I’ll definitely take a look at it. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Disce VerumJune 11, 2021 at 2:23 PM

      You're very welcome, Omer! This was news to me, too, and so glad to hear that you enjoyed reading the article! :)

      Delete
  2. KelvynJune 11, 2021 at 3:33 PM

    Hello!

    Thank you for an insightful read! I can see many uses of badges being used in the context of training. In my tour in the military institute, we also toyed with the idea of using digital badges to stimulate learners to participate more actively in their self-directed learning. I would think that results were somewhat mixed, with an increase in the quantity of responses, but no significant increase in the quality of engagement. I would like to know, from your own experience, how would you rate the effectiveness of digital badges in encouraging participation? I would think in may case, it would be 3 stars for people who already show initial task interest, a 1.5 stars for those who dont and 5 stars for achievement-driven people.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Disce VerumJuly 11, 2021 at 4:56 PM

      Hi Kelvyn! Thank you for your comments and kind words! I actually haven't used badges in a course yet, and was surprised and delighted to find them enabled within Canvas. I really like them as an additional feature of our class--I like how they give plenty of participation options to students looking for concrete ways to engage, and how they nonetheless allow students independence in the decision-making process, i.e., we get to decide when and if we want to shoot for a badge. I think I would agree with your star ratings--definitely 5 for "achievement-driven" folks, as you say! :)

      Delete

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