Colorado Digital Badge EcosystemCharlie Team

Rocky Mountain Badge AllianceColorado Higher Education Case Studies

Badge Currency Discussion

Michael P. MacklinDirector of New Product Development

Colorado State University Online

Brenda M. PereaInstructional Design Project ManagerColorado Community College System

COLORADO COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM BADGE CONSORTIUM

CSU Online and Colorado Community College System are working with 2 /4 year higher education institutions, business and workforce to create a digital badging ecosystem to address stakeholders (education, industry/business and workforce) needs.

We are hoping to build a comprehensive badge ecosystem where digital badges convey value through micro-credentialed learning.

THE JOURNEY BEGAN……LATE 2013▪ An fortunate set of circumstances▪ TAACCCT grants▪ Colorado Workforce asked for other types of credentialing▪ Colorado Industry demanded shorter turnaround training

▪ An unfortunate set of circumstances▪ School system implement badges wanting them to articulate up to the community

colleges▪ In 2012, Colorado State University (CSU) committed to developing a digital badge program

that would allow them to address the learning needs of a broader audience. The pilot program was a non-credit professional development program that unbundled on-demand and competency based.

THE ACCELERATION OF THE COLORADO BADGE MOVEMENT...…

Demands

▪ Industry▪ Shortage of qualified

workers

▪ Economic development

▪ Executive Branch of Colorado state government

Solution

Identified Competencies that are Learner Focused, Community Centered and Industry Driven

Transparency of learning

▪ Competencies at a granular level

▪ Link what knowledge to what a badge earner “can do”

Portability• Follows the learner through a life long learning pathway• Data can be verified and certified by badge consumer

Transparency of learning

▪ Competencies at a granular level

▪ Link what knowledge to what a badge earner “can do”

Portability• Follows the learner through a life long learning pathway• Data can be verified and certified by badge consumer

Why does Colorado Workforce need more transparent credentials?

Identified Competencies that are Learner Focused, Community Centered and Industry Driven

EARLY 2014….ONE SMALL STEP FOR COLORADO

▪ Collaboration, Collaboration, and More Collaboration▪ Higher Education

▪ 13 system 2- year colleges, 2 non-system 2-year colleges and 2 four –year institutions

▪ Industry Partnerships▪ Other ways to acknowledge expertise

▪ Workforce Partnerships▪ State agency wanting alternatives to:

▪ Credentialing

▪ for-profit trainings

▪ Fast turnarounds

▪ Negotiate, negotiate and more negotiations▪ Development of a trust network where

education/industry/business/workforce agree on the recognition and acceptance of digital badges and the validation of badges is comprised of standards, evaluation and evidence.

HOW DID WE START….

▪ Badges should be:▪ Industry Driven▪ Community Centered▪ Learner Focused

▪ Agree that every badge issued or accepted is tied to: ▪ specific standards/or

competency, ▪ have a formal assessment

or evaluation of competency

▪ evidence of micro-learning.

COLORADO COMPANIES ALREADY BADGING

Colorado Dept. of TransportationHunter Douglas Home DepotAmazonWalmartDeloitteSamsungIBMCiscoMicrosoftUS MilitaryAdobeNational Park ServiceColorado Advanced Manufacturing Association

HIERARCHY

ProficientKnowledge

A proficient performer has academic knowledge and formal training•Informal and formal education•Experience enables recognition of approaches for solving problems•Intuitive reactions replace reasoned responses.

ExpertSkills

The expert is able to see what needs to be achieved and how to achieve it•Answer questions•Make more refined and subtle discriminations than proficient•Tailors an approach and method to each situation based on an elevated skill level.

MasteryAuthority

The master has developed superior standards and effectiveness of knowledge•Ability to evaluate effectiveness and application of knowledge•Utilizes extending expertise within a domain with their own synthesis of tools and methods.•Ability to teach or train other to become an expert.

ExcellenceDistinguished

Deep understanding of highly complex subjects•Deep expertise, exceeding the skill level of experienced professionals•Influences and mentors others to help them make the best use of skills, knowledge, aptitude and solutions•Among the most trusted advisors, helps grow and nurture the community of like-minded individuals.

Industry Partners were not interested.

CCCS TARGETED BADGESBadge competencies to accelerate students into and through programs: Technical Math, Machining, Engineering Graphics, Faculty Development

WWW.CCCS.EDU/BADGES

CONNECTING CREDENTIAL COMPETENCY FRAMEWORK-ADVANCED MANUFACTURING

IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA

• Badges can be branded with your institutional name, colors, and logos.

• Employers and friends of students see the skills coming from that institution and create brand recognition.

The Project – Pilot Program Steps

Develop a University-wide common language and understanding around digital badges.

Develop University-wide standards for digital badges.

Partner with University Extension to re-design an in-person program for an online format.

Invent and develop a one-of-a-kind software application for digital badge issuing.

Partner with CSU’s Institute for Teaching and Learning (TILT) and ensure pedagogical soundness.

Ensure student credibility in coursework.

• Learner Centric• Community Focused• Industry Driven

Badge Ecosystem DesignStep One – Hierarchy

Trek Badge Quest Badge Mastery Badge

Step Two – Curriculum MapStep Three – Badge GraphicsStep Four – Software Development Design

Badge Ecosystem – Hierarchy

Badge Ecosystem – Curriculum Map

CSULogic - Student Badge Management

In Production:• Social media connections• Certificate printing/mailing• Backpack Uploading

In Development:• Map your badge path• Group badges• See recommended badges

ImplementationThe implementation stage consisted of:

Course release in a controlled pilot. 2014 – Extension Certified Gardner Program from May to December.

Evaluation of student knowledge. Learners have pre/post test options, are expected to spend a minimum of

5 hours per week course, and must achieve 80% or higher on all summative assessments to earn a badge.

Assessment of outcomes. From SM14 to SP15, CSU awarded over 130 digital badges to more than

50 learners. From May 2014 to December 2014, 23% of registered learners were

awarded digital badges. Conclusions on entering an emerging market:

CSU helps to advance education opportunity by digital badge programs that lower costs, increase access to high quality content, and provide learners with options to manage their credentials and portfolio.

BADGES AND HIRING• Students need to be coached to post badges and skills to LinkedIn

and Facebook so recruiters can search for them.• Students need to be sure to include job description keywords on their resume’s and

profiles.

• CSU Online and CCCS continuous outreach to industry, businesses, staffing agencies and hiring managers to raise competency based badge awareness • Demonstrate how to search for badges on LinkedIn• Develop programs and courses for organizations in high-growth Key Industry Networks• Investigate ways to convert badges into credit baring courses and create pathways from

non-credit programming, into the community college system, and towards four year degrees.

CC BY AND ATTRIBUTION▪ This Workforce Solution, presentation is licensed under a

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Based on a work created under the Department of Labor, TAACCCT3 grant, permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at https://www.cccs.edu/partnering-for-success/trade-adjustment-assistance/taa-coetc/