:::::SUMMARY:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

We are exploring assessments and associated badges for open and informal learning contexts such as P2PU.  

This page is meant to be a summary of our work for the course organizer orientation.  More information on the SoW pilot can be found here: http://etherpad.mozilla.org:9000/webcraftassessment

Some of Erin's thoughts: http://erinknight.com/post/2488034871/certification-revisited

For a longer (working) read on badges, see: https://docs0.google.com/document/d/1NGORaEE3IMbpDdnKcnusvBc-9JW8tl934SeEoq8iJGU/edit?hl=en#

:::::WHAT IS A BADGE?::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 

A 'badge' is a symbol or indicator of an accomplishment, skill, quality or interest. From the Boy and Girl Scouts, to PADI diving instruction, to the more recently popular geo-location game, Foursquare, badges have been successfully used to set goals, motivate behaviors, represent achievements and communicate success in many contexts. For our work, we are capitalizing on these examples and experiences to capture the learning that is occurring across P2PU and other similar environments and allow learners to carry that learning across contexts.  Ultimately, a badge system could function as a new form of credentialing and certification, where the collection of various skill and competency badges can signal achievements and capabilities to outside stakeholders.

:::::WHY BADGES?::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 

Currently learning in formal channels is:

• prescribed / controlled
• abstracted to a rubber stamp or degree

Currently learning in open/informal channels is:

• not captured
• not portable

Badges allow us to:

• Capture the learning wherever it occurs
• Capture a more granular and personalized set of skills
• Motivate/encourage/guide learning
• Signify/help build identity and reputation
• Signal achievements to outside stakeholders 

:::::PILOT SUMMARY::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 

We are conducting a pilot project in the January session of the School of Webcraft to incorporate some assessments and associated badges.  We hope to learn more about the viability of badges, reactions to various assessments/badges, which skills are important to the community and if/how to scale the badge system.  The badges and assessments targeted for the pilot are outlined below and cover the following:

Badge types:

SoW defined skill badges

Course defined skill badges

SoW defined community badges

OSQA community behavior badges (tentative)

Other badges

Assessment types:

Peer assessment

Guru/badge owner assessment

Course organizer assessment

System assessment (tentative)

*Note: for the pilot, assessments and badges will be aligned with courses.  Moving forward, we plan on opening up assessments across the community.

:::::PILOT BADGES::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 

Full list: http://etherpad.mozilla.org:9000/webcraftassessment

SKILL BADGES

Explicitly sought out, challenge-based, peer assessed

• Javascript Expert
• Javascript Basic
• PHP Expert
• PHP Basic 
• Others?  Please suggest 

Suggested badges so far (need help with the assessment):

• Beginner CSS Skills
• HTML5/CSS3

VALUE BADGES

Explicitly sought out, reflective narrative, guru assessed

• Accessibility Expert
• Others? Please suggest

Suggested badges so far (need help with the assessment):

• Creativity

COMMUNITY-ORIENTED BADGES

Issued peer-to-peer

• Team Player/Good Teammate
• Communicator
• Problem Solver/Innovator
• Community Builder
• Peer Mentor
• Others? Please suggest  

OSQA/COMMUNITY FORUM BADGES

Issued within OSQA, automatically by system

OTHER BADGES

Issued by P2PU

• Course Organizer 
• P2PU Veteran
• Peer-to-Organizer
• Others? Please suggest 

:::::PROCESS::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 

Assessments and badges will be available towards the end of the session

Most will be posted within the OSQA environment as questions and submissions as responses

Badges will be awarded within the OSQA environment and manually ported (by us) to P2PU profile

:::::COURSE ORGANIZER'S ROLE:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 

Trying to limit burden or overhead on you.

May ask you to message assessment(s)/badge(s) within course

May ask you to encourage people to review the submissions

More to come...

In the meantime - let us know if there are specific assessments/badges that you would like to include with your course.  Please suggest.