Leveraging Badges as Evidence of Learned Skills for Employers

Description

One of our carry-over themes this year is Digital Badges. Ronnie Godshalk, Professor of Business Administration at Penn State Brandywine, has an interest in implementing badges to link program learning goals in the World Campus’ B.S. in Business to digital badges, allowing learners to earn digital badges that showcase evidence tied to specific learning goals. One of the motivations for badges is the ability of potential employers to see actual evidence of learning, when considering our students.

Currently, in the literature, digital badges are also described as open badges which allow learners to share their earned badges with others, most importantly, potential employers. The concept of open badges is under development by Mozilla, and other researchers, so learners can show evidence of skill competency potentially for career advancement. This opportunity to share evidence-based badges may create impetus in learners to earn badges.

Ronnie has already surveyed students and employers regarding the types of badges that have the most appeal. Common themes from both students and employers were leadership, time management and diversity.

Ronnie has aligned a research agenda with this project, that involves the exploration of badges in the context of student motivation, career advancement, and potential employer acceptance. As the Badge platform at Penn State continues to grow, we are excited to work with Ronnie on the alignment of learning outcomes assessment and digital badges!

Cohort

2015

Focus Area

Student Engagement
Theme: Digital Badges