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Table 3 Strategies to Implement Badges with Purpose and Value

From: Instilling purpose and value in the implementation of digital badges in higher education

Implementation Framework Categories

Strategies to Add Purpose & Value

Badge Instructional Design

Tie badge assignments directly to course learning outcomes

Let pedagogical goals drive the decisions

Create rigorous badge assignments

Embed metadata in badges which link to criteria and final work product

Consider the course and content area when deciding to use badges

Consider if badges should have expirations dates

Badge System Platform

Use an open source system to minimize faculty workload and usability issues

Link the badge system to the LMS to minimize faculty workload and usability issues

Consider affordances of technology available

Consider the technology skill level of those involved with badge system design and implementation

Establish roles and outsource tasks to decrease faculty workload

Badge Program Implementation

Solicit stakeholder participation throughout each phase of implementation

Invite community involvement

Clearly communicate how badges are a solution to an instructional or curricular problem

Demonstrate to faculty and students how badges can be shared externally

Devise a badge program evaluation and badge revision plan

Conduct ongoing faculty training to ensure grading consistency across multiple course sections