Thursday, December 6, 2018

Digital Badges (From UMASS Boston Wikispaces)



What are Digital Badges?




A digital badge is an online representation of a skill you have earned. They can be used in e-learning environments to certify accomplishments, track growth, increase motivation among students, among other things.


These badges take the form of a digital emblem/image that can be collected by students and viewed by both students and instructors (and potentially even by the public). It works much like the Boy Scout badge system, only it's digital.





(A video from the MacArthur Foundation on digital badges)




Benefits and Use of Digital Badges



Motivation


Studies have shown that by highlighting and commending achievement, digital badges increase student motivation, therefore, their participation and engagement with the material. Not only do badges serve as reward for exceptional performance, but also act as record for challenges a student has overcome.


Metadata


Digital badges carry metadata that indicate where, when, and how a badge was earned. Additional information attached to the digital badge might include the credentials of the issuer, among other verifying details. This metadata travels with the badge so that a viewer can see the whole story of the badge holder's growth.


Shareability


With Mozilla's Open Badges initiative, the sharing of badges has become very fluid. It is easy to share your digital badges on social media or through other technological pathways. This flexibility across platforms encourages communication and more active participation. It makes it easy for students to show publicly how they are progressing in their learning.


Profile Building


Many companies and educational institutions have begun to recognize digital badges as a valid form of credentials. Digital badges are quickly becoming more acceptable as a way demonstrating the value of your skill-set to potential employers or higher ed institutions. With digital badges, students can display their specialization and commendations to the public in a manner that has potential for tangible rewards.




Badges in Blackboard


Blackboard has Mozilla Open Badges integrated into the Achievements tool. This enables instructors to issue digital badges in Blackboard courses.

Badges in a Blackboard course are tied with the graded learning activities; a grade center column must exist for a learning activity prior to setting up a badge.


Building a Badge in a Blackboard Course


In a content area:


  • Build graded learning activity, and/or

  • Build activity with review status


In Achievements tool:


  • Select badge type

  • Set rule for criteria for score/grade or review status

  • Choose digital badge image

  • Choose location for display of earned badge




Here are more detailed steps on how to create a badge.


Publishing and Sharing a Badge


A digital badge earned in a Blackboard course may be published to a Mozilla Backpack (if the instructor has enabled this feature). This transports the evidence of the student’s learning and achievement to a space outside Blackboard Learn. From the Mozilla Backpack, students can publish and share their digital badges on social media and elsewhere.



Students will need to create a free account with Mozilla Backpack with their UMB email address to be able to publish the badge. Have them follow the instructions below to create an account and publish a badge.




Create Account with Mozilla Backpack (for students)


Please note: The email address associated with a Mozilla Backpack must match the email address associated with the Blackboard account with which a user earns badges.


  1. Go to https://backpack.openbadges.org/backpack/login/

  2. Click Log in or Sign Up.

  3. Type in your UMB email address in the provided screen and follow the steps to create an account.



Publish Badge


For best results, log in to your Mozilla Backpack in a separate tab in the same browser before starting publishing.


  1. Earn a badge in a Blackboard course

  2. Go to My Achievements or My Badges area on the Course Menu

  3. Locate the earned badge and click Publish to Mozilla (screenshot below)

  4. Follow the prompts to authenticate with your Mozilla Backpack account until you receive a confirmation that your badge was published.

  5. Share Badge Collection on the web.




mozilly.png


Share Badge


Badges collected in a Mozilla Backpack can be easily shared in social media platforms in a number of ways. Here are some ideas: http://openbadges.org/display/ 



Here is an example of a Mozilla Backpack that was shared on Twitter (click the link in the post to view Backpack).




Additional Info




Using Achievements in Blackboard

Open Badges

The Lure of Badges (Blackboard)

Achievements

Case Studies

Deeper Overview




Getting Help with Badges in Blackboard


Request an appointment with an Instructional Designer to get help with building badges in your Blackboard course: elearning@umb.edu

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Integrity (13 Characteristics)

13 Characteristics of People Who Have Integrity

1. They Value Other People's Time: They value their own time so they also value the time of other people. They know you have plenty of other places you need to be and won’t hold you up. If you spend time with them, it is likely they will thank you for that as well.

2. They Give Credit Where It Is Due: They do not take credit for things they did not do. They will always credit those who deserve it. If you help this person with a project he or she will likely mention your name so you can take credit for your work.

3. They Are Authentic: They are their truest forms. You won’t catch them in a lie or being fake.

4. They Are Always Honest: They are honest people that feel no need to lie as it is important for them to get to where they need to get in life honestly.

5. They Never Take Advantage Of Others: They are not the kind of people who will take advantage of someone else. They love to build people up and help them get where they need to be. Taking too much from someone else will never be an issue with someone who has a lot of integrity.

6. The Do Not Argue Over Disagreements: They will talk through things in a civil manner or not talk at all. You cannot and will not force this person into arguing over something completely ridiculous. I find this to be a very respectable trait.

7. They Give Most People The Benefit Of The Doubt: They try to see the good in everyone. I think this is because they feel like maybe there are more people in this world that also have integrity. That being said, if you take advantage of them too much they will get rid of you.

8. They Know When Something Is Bothering Someone: They have a great intuition that lets them know when something is going on. If someone is down in the dumps they will notice. Chances are they will actually do what they can to cheer you up.

9. They Believe In Others: They accept your word as truth until it is dis-proven. That being said, they do not take lying well. And once you lie to them, it is unlikely that they will ever take your word again.

10. They Apologize First: If they have done something wrong they will come to you and apologize. This is just how they are. They own up to their mistake and try to make things right.

11. They Are Humble: They do not quite know their own worth. While they are very important and do so much good they don’t quite see it. You should remind them of it.

12. They Do Good When They Can: They are always helping other people. They love to know that they have improved someone’s life. It gives their lives meaning.

13. They Are Always Kind To Those Who Need It: Giving kindness can go a long way. When someone looks like they need a little pick me up these people deliver. They can brighten up almost anyone’s day.

If you are someone who has true integrity, thank you for being who you are and thank you for all that you do. You really do actually make a difference in society, please keep up the good work. If you feel no one else is proud of you, know that I am.

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