make achieving fun – an introduction to the new open badges function for moodle 2.5

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Make Achieving Fun: An introduction to the new Open Badges function for Moodle 2.5

Sponsored by Webanywhere Ltd.


The latest Moodle function to be added to Moodle is more than just an exciting new

feature: It has the potential to start a small revolution in online learning.The feature is

called Open Badges, and it’s a flexible, more visible way to reward students.

The Open Badges project was co-funded by the Mac Arthur Foundation and Mozilla,

famous for developing the Firefox web browser, now used by one quarter of the

world’s population. The aim of the project was to enhance recognition of learning and

motivate students through the rewarding of ‘badges.’

Open Badges are a simple idea: Through learning achievements, both practical and

theoretical, students can be rewarded in both a flexible and highly visible way.

Each badge contains metadata - information regarding the achievement - when the

badge was awarded, what it was awarded for and who by. For example, a yellow badge

with a book could mean a student who has achieved an A at GCSE English literature.

This is a visual signpost of the qualifications and skills a student has, and also helps to

illustrate the skillset for potential future employers. Open Badges can be posted and

viewed anywhere the student, or the school, wishes.

How Open Badges work

For the student, Open Badges provide a solid body of evidence to take to Universities,

colleges or potential employers.

Through the work they do at school, the student can build up a collection of badges.

Each time they complete an assignment, exam or piece of coursework, a new badge is

earned.


A name

A description

An image

The issuer Name

The issuer Email

The Badge expiry

A set of criteria defining how it is issued

A message to the user that is sent once it is earned

Therefore, Open Badges assist both the potential employer in assessing a learner’s

abilities and suitability for a job or course, and they assist the learner in gaining

recognition faster and more visibly.

For the school, issuing these badges means all students’ achievements can be easily

displayed in one online location. They also serve to create more competition amongst

learners, with a greater feeling of achievement when a badge is awarded. This drives

learners to work harder and go further. The most outstanding badges achieved by

students within the school can become great PR opportunities for the school itself.

BADGES = visual representationsof a skill or achievement

The determination to earn more badges than their peers means the student works

harder to earn the badges they need. When it comes to applying for an apprenticeship,

job or University course, whereas other students may have the beginnings of a CV, or

paper certificates, the student with Open Badges awarded to them has every bit of

information needed to verify the award. Every Open Badges contains:


Laura is a Year 10 student. She is hoping to leave school at 16 and start an

apprenticeship at a local accountancy company. Her general performance in school is

good, but she tends to always fall around the halfway point in exams for most subjects.

Despite her interest in accountancy, to her teachers, Laura is not seen as a strong

student likely to stay on at the school to complete ‘A’ levels - mainly due to her general

performance in exams. Laura herself has no real faith in her own abilities, and therefore

has chosen to eschew University for, what she feels, is a more achievable goal.

As others in her year begin to work harder to be awarded badges for different achieve-

ments, Laura is inspired to work harder for them too.

Laura’s form tutor decides, at the start of the school year, to set a competition to see

who can achieve the most badges before the term ends. The first place prize is not only

a trophy, but also a trip to Alton Towers theme park.

Realising that this could help her chances of gaining not only an apprenticeship, but

also opening the door for other opportunities - like continuing on at school to do Maths

‘A’ level or going to college to study for an Accountancy diploma, Laura relishes the

challenge. Over the coming months she works hard in all lessons, even taking part in

out-of-school activities - something that she wouldn’t normally consider.

Open Badges in school: A story

However, when Open Badges are introduced to the school’s Moodle, Laura takes a

keen interest in what these mean, how they can be achieved and how they can help her

in the future. Never one to enjoy exam-based studies, Laura realises that she can now

earn these very attractive-looking badges for any kind of work she excels in.


Laura earns badges for strong results, not only in the classroom, but also outside of

school hours as well, spending longer on her homework assignments. Each time she

earns a new badge, it spurs her on to achieve another. Her peers can see the badges,

too - and inspired by Laura’s success, they work harder to achieve their own badges.

By the end of the school year, achievement across the year group has improved - and

the badges are an immediate visual representation of this. When Laura wins the prize

for the most badges at the end of the year, her achievements are not only visible to her

peers, teachers and her parents, but she is able to demonstrate her hard work immedi

ately to the business she chooses for work experience.

Laura uses her badges to secure work experience at a local accountancy business.

When she begins her work experience, she is able to show the Open Badges to the

business owner. As the business is using a Totara platform - the corporate world’s

equivalent of Moodle - he immediately understands the importance of using the

Open Badges system, and is also able to award Laura a badge for her hard work during

her work experience.

Within a year, Laura has built up an impressive collection of badges thanks to the

Open Badges system - and when Laura later chooses to stay at school for ‘A’ levels,

she is able to present this proof of achievements as one whole body of work to

Universities.


The Open Badges benefits

Where will Open Badges take us?

Capturing Learning Achievements - through the use of badges, core competencies

of students will be captured and recorded and held within a single learning record

Achievement Signalling - teachers, tutors and potential future employers will be able

to identify talents quickly and easily

Motivating the Classroom - badges will provide students with recognition of their

learning whilst motivating them to achieve more!

Supporting Innovation - students will be motivated to work harder at those skills they

are developing and gaining badges for. Their success will spur others on to do better

and stretch themselves further.

Reputation Building - those who are developing their competencies will be identified

and their reputation within the school will become known. Furthermore, students will

be building a portfolio of achievements that are instantly accessible and recognisable,

perfect for starting great careers or applying for University in the future

Open BadgesEcosystem

Capturing learningachievements

Supports innovation in the creative economy

Motivates the workforce

Achievement signalling

Reputation building

Community building

As we see from the above story, Open Badges will provide endless benefits to both

schools and students.


Want to learn more?

Why not give Webanywhere a call - on 01535 604026.

Webanywhere is an Official Moodle partner.

WebanywhereOrchard HouseAire Valley Business CentreLawkholme LaneKeighleyWest Yorkshire BD21 3BBTel. 01535 604026

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make achieving fun – an introduction to the new open badges function for moodle 2.5

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