1. Open Badges, Open Borders Suzanne Scott Borders College Technology Enhanced Learning Unit

2. Overview What are Open Badges? – How do they work? – What do they look like? How are Borders College using them? – The journey so far – Lessons learned Where do we go from here? – As an institution? – Collectively?

3. Do you remember... Blue and Gold Banquet by Anja Johnson http://www.flickr.com/photos/37353087@N03/4056767466 I’m a Brownie by Sarah Joy http://www.flickr.com/photos/62559061@N06/6921282288

4. What are Open Badges? Supported by Mozilla – The Macarthur Foundation – Working to create a recognised, shared infrastructure for badge creation and display Visual representations of achievements, learning, skills, interests and competencies – Complement rather than replace traditional education practices All images displayed with approval from Doug Belshaw@Mozilla

5. The Science bit! An image with metadata hardcoded into them – Issuers and Endorsers Stays in your dedicated Mozilla badge backpack – Can also be displayed in various locations; Linkedin, Moodle, Mahara www.openbadges.org All images displayed with approval from Doug Belshaw@Mozilla

6. Open Badges 6 Image by Kyle Bowen

7. What a badge looks like

8. Why? 3 words: – Retention – Motivation – Employability

9. Badges in real life @BC Ideas for curriculum based badges Moodle badges from the TEL team CPD badges Working with local employers Lessons learned along the way

10. Beware… When introducing badges: – Greater communication with all concerned required to ensure sense of ownership – Importance of Senior Management approval – More time required to accept change – Concerns over time to create badges/additional assessment load

11. Curriculum based badges HNC Interactive Media – Podcasting – HTML fundamentals – Understanding colour – Photography – Team leadership – Developing customer relationships

12. The process Tools available… In reality… – You as a tutor know the areas your students; struggle with and/or already do but don’t get credit for – Brainstorm Get topic and criteria set Consider links to other badges to ‘super badge’ Then think about design

13. The tools Jisc Open Badge toolkit – http://www.jiscrsc.ac.uk/media/4217 18/jiscopenbadgesdesigntoolkit- print_1.pdf http://www.jiscrsc.ac.uk/media/4217 18/jiscopenbadgesdesigntoolkit- print_1.pdf DigitalMe Badge Canvas – http://www.digitalme.co.uk/ba dgecanvas/ http://www.digitalme.co.uk/ba dgecanvas/ Badgemaker project online tool – http://badgemakerproject.co m/ http://badgemakerproject.co m/ An easier process? – Practical badge making session with BDU if required?

14. You are nearing your destination... Moodle User Badge pilot – Different approach – Student badges to encourage digital literacy – Using Moodle as host – Aimed to introduce badges ‘gently’ to staff and students – Small pilot: 4 classes

15. Moodle Open Badges Student badges recognise/encourage: Professional profile creation Contribution to discussion forums Electronic submission of assignments Use of the VLE generally Staff badges recognise /encourage: Innovative use of the VLE Greater use of tools Time and effort invested

16. How we did it! Topic agreed Criteria defined Pathway created Graphic designed in- house Badges issued manually through Moodle

17. A solution for you? Badges around Placements? – Fits with lifelong learning journey – Scope for Open Badges in a lifelong learning portfolio? Award open badges for: – Successful learners – Confident individuals – Responsible citizens – Effective contributors Other generic issues: – Attendance – Behaviour (if appropriate)

18. Alternative routes – diversion in place Introducing Open Badges for CPD sessions Full support of HR department – Removal of paper certificates

19. Staff CPD All staff now have at least one open badge – spread awareness Increase loyalty and attendance at CPD sessions Staff see value in CPD sessions. No longer just mandatory Could this work with some of your employers? Work with TEL if appropriate

20. Objects in the rear view mirror... It’s been an interesting journey! – Still positive about the value of Open Badges – More realistic about the work which needs to be done to convince non- believers SQA, CDN, Jisc RSC working group will help

21. Open Badge Highway Code Badge image design is important but time consuming Criteria setting is important for credibility Handle concerns sensitively Look for like minded evangelists to share thoughts and issues Institutional buy-in is key Support from RSC, SQA and Mozilla important

22. Future of badges at Borders 3 year plan to introduce Open Badges across the curriculum Aim to accredit prior learning and introduce bridging badges Considering pathways for learners /identifying badges according to career aspirations Working with local employers to raise awareness

23. Bridges (dependencies) “SQA supports the concept of Open Badges and is working in partnership with the Open Badges in Scottish Education Group to support the adoption of Open Badges across a range of sectors. We believe that the infrastructure promotes and supports greater flexibility for learning and the recognition of achievement.” “Permission to Innovate!” – adopting Open Badges as part of the recognition for teachers and appointees through SQA Academy Courses – Exploring possibilities that Open Badges offer in terms of digital certification in the future 23 Joe Wilson, Head of New Ventures, SQA. Experimental Blog, October 2013

24. Open Badges Scottish Education Group Jisc OBSEG: – Overview and mapping function of Open Badge developments in Scottish education Oversees a number of sub- groups: Learner Progress, Staff Development, Technology and Design – Provides a forum for discussion and the formation of connections Now being hosted nationally; SQA and SG

25. A practical working group Perhaps through SLTN? – Greater support irrespective of level – Learn from each other – Use different platforms Scottish learning events (jointly badged) – As Chicago Summer or Learning https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WwpwtYNsNk#t=20

26. Diversions ahead… The creation of suites of subject specific badges which could be shared across the sector What tools should be used? – Clear guidelines for planning, designing and issuing badges (toolkit) Work with schools – Empower students/pupils to create their own badges – Peer assessment Working group maintenance (OBSEG) – Funding? – Projects? Introducing Open Badges to employers to ensure value – Role for BDU? Fitting the pieces together – work is still fragmented

27. Interested? You could start by looking at: Mozilla’s Open Badges site to find out how to use the Open Badge Infrastructure to earn, issue and display Open Badges. http://openbadges.orghttp://openbadges.org, then set up your backpack and earn your first badge…

28. Further information – Find out more about the Jisc Regional Support Centre (RSC) Scotland pilot of Open Badges. rsc-scotland.org/?page_id=2223 – Open Badges in Scottish Education Group. bit.ly/obseg – Open Badges case studies. rsc-scotland.org/?tag=open-badges – Open Badges blog posts. rsc-scotland.org/eassessment/tag/open-badges/ 28 Jisc support

29. Any questions? For more information: Suzanne Scott Sscot@borderscollege. ac.uk – @sscotborders – 01896 662576