Open badges for education: what are the implications at the intersection of open systems and badging?

June Ahn; Anthony Pellicone; Brian S. Butler

doi:10.3402/rlt.v22.23563

Open badges for education: what are the implications at the intersection of open systems and badging?

June Ahn College of Information Studies, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA College of Education, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
Anthony Pellicone College of Information Studies, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
Brian S. Butler College of Information Studies, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3402/rlt.v22.23563

Keywords: open education, gamification, learning, credentials, badges, education reform

Abstract

Badges have garnered great interest among scholars of digital media and learning. In addition, widespread initiatives such as Mozilla’s Open Badge Framework expand the potential of badging into the realm of open education. In this paper, we explicate the concept of open badges. We highlight some of the ways that researchers have examined badges as part of educational practice and also highlight the different definitions of open-ness that are employed in popular and scholarly thought. By considering badges from three different perspectives (motivation, pedagogy, and credential) and the concept of openness from three different perspectives (production, access and appropriation) we develop a framework to consider the tensions where these competing conceptions meet. This explication illuminates how the ideas of open and badges intersect, and clarifies situations where these concepts come into direct conflict or mutually enhance each other. Our analysis pinpoints and elucidates particular areas where research is needed to better understand the complex phenomenon of open badges, and also offers design considerations for developers, educators, and organizations that are actively involved in open badges.

Keywords: open education; gamification; learning; credentials; badges; education reform

(Published: 8 August 2014)

Citation: Research in Learning Technology 2014, 22: 23563 -http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/rlt.v22.23563

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Published

2014-08-08

How to Cite

Ahn J., Pellicone A., & Butler B. S. (2014). Open badges for education: what are the implications at the intersection of open systems and badging?. Research in Learning Technology, 22. https://doi.org/10.3402/rlt.v22.23563

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Issue

Vol. 22 (2014)

Section

Review Articles

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