CATL Badges
CATL is piloting a digital badging system for the programming and events the Center organizes and offers. A digital badge is not unlike a physical badge one may have earned as a child to demonstrate their proficiency in canoeing or weaving. A digital badge is unique to an event or program, awarded to individuals to recognize their proficiency or achievement, and conveys information for an outside audience including: a description of the achievement or proficiency, the criteria one needs to meet to earn the badge, and a visual representation of the badge.
Just like physical badges are stored on a sash, jacket, or vest, digital badges are stored in a location available to external audiences. This place is called a digital backpack and can be shared via URL or linked on platforms like LinkedIn. Digital badges can also be downloaded and embedded in email signatures or other digital documents.
The Center awards badges through a platform called Badgr. These badges are considered “open”, in that they can be displayed on any platform that supports Open Badges and be added to collections with Open Badges from other issuers to showcase new skills to audiences, like department chairs, supervisors, and accreditors.
CATL's badging pilot has five badge categories in order to accommodate the different degrees to which faculty and staff are able to engage with CATL events and programs. These categories range from low-stakes participation badges which require little time commitment, to mentorship and scholarship badges which require much more work toward a final deliverable.
Participation Badges
Participation badges ask earners to attend a training, programming, or other development opportunity which may be introductory or informative. These programming opportunities may not have responsibilities beyond attendance or engagement associated with them. An example of a participation badge is the Instructional Development Institute Participant badge issued for attending CATL’s January teaching and learning conference.
Knowledge Badges
Knowledge badges ask earners to engage with training, programming, or development which may be introductory or informative. Participants must produce a deliverable that meets outcomes associated with the event or program. The programming opportunity, including the completion of the deliverable, may take approximately 5–10 hours to complete, and pique earners’ interest in further development. An example of a knowledge badge is the Teaching with Technology Basecamp badge which is issued for completing the final deliverable of CATL’s online, asynchronous Basecamp course.
Practice Badges
Practice badges ask earners to engage with sustained programming and submit evidence of their teaching and/or learning which demonstrates that they have met outcomes or goals associated with the program, series, or course. The programming opportunity, including the completion of the deliverable, may take approximately 10–15 hours to complete. An appropriate deliverable for Practice badges is about application, implementation, and demonstration of knowledge using their new techniques, methods, or skills. An example of a Practice badge is the Course Design Trail Guides badge, which requires earners to build upon the knowledge gained in CATL’s Teaching with Technology Basecamp course and Trail Guides (Asynchronous and Synchronous) courses and apply it toward designing and teaching a course in a distance modality.
Scholarship or Mentorship Badges
Scholarship or Mentorship badges ask earners to provide evidence of sharing their scholarly research, creative activity, or pedagogical expertise in the field of teaching and learning with colleagues through professional development opportunities like mentoring, fellowships or residencies, workshops or a programming series, or by being departmental or college liaisons. The scholarship or mentorship project or program, including the completion of the deliverable, may take 20 hours or more to complete.