The document outlines a method for studying digital badge systems used in learning programs. It discusses four main functions of badge systems: recognizing learning, assessing learning, motivating learning, and studying learning. The project studied programs designing, implementing, and formalizing practices for badge systems. Researchers identified general design principles and specific practices for each function by analyzing implemented practices across multiple projects. The goals are to understand what principles are shared across contexts, which principles are easy or hard to implement, and how contextual factors affect enactment of principles.

1. Design Principles for
Badge Systems
Design Principles Documentation Project
Open Badges in Education Workshop
17 August 2014
Nate Otto
Indiana University

2. Thanks to:

3. A METHOD FOR STUDYING
DIGITAL BADGE SYSTEMS
Design Principles

4. h"p://bit.ly/dpd-­‐methods

5. Design Principles
Documentation
Project
http://dpdproject.info

6. Design Principles Documentation Project
Rebecca
Itow
Cindy
Ahonen
Katerina
Schenke
Cathy
Tran
Nate
Otto
Christine
Chow
Daniel T. Hickey
Principal Investigator

9. Design Principles Documentation Project
Goal: To find out how
organizations are using digital
badges in learning programs.

10. Design Principles Documentation Project
Four functions of digital badge systems
• Recognizing Learning
• Assessing Learning
• Motivating Learning
• Studying Learning

11. Pulling
apart
different
func1ons
of
badge
systems.

12. Badge systems are collections of
practices that serve a variety of
functions.

13. Intended
Practice
Enacted
Practice
Formal
Practice
Evolution of a Practice
Original
design
As first
implemented
Continuing
practice

14. BUILDING BADGE
SYSTEMS
We studied programs that were

15. DESIGNING, ENACTING, AND
FORMALIZING PRACTICES TO
BUILD BADGE SYSTEMS
We studied programs that were

16. Design Principles Documentation Project
Four functions of digital badge systems
• Recognizing Learning
• Assessing Learning
• Motivating Learning
• Studying Learning

17. For each of these categories,
we identified general design
principles.

18. Sort Identified Practices
Draft Initial Principles
Formalize General
Principles
Bookmark Research
Emergence of Badge Design Principles

20. Level badges
Provide routes
or pathways
1 General Principle 2 Specific Principles 18 practices
across 30 projects
(As implemented in
project contexts)
“Levels of
Participation and
Achievement”
-Intel
“Hierarchical Quest
Paths” –NOAA
Planet Stewards

21. General
and
Specific
Principles:
Recognizing
Learning
• Align
badges
to
standards
(23)
– Use standards internal to
community (3)
– Use national or international
standards (12)
– Use community and national/
international standards (8)
• Use
badges
to
map
learning
trajectory
(18)
– Level badges (11)
– Provide routes or pathways (7)
• Have
experts
issue
badges
(15)
– Credentialed via external
accredited entity (8)
– Credentialed via community (2)
– Credentialed via accredited entity
and community (5)
• Seek
external
backing
(15)
– Externally
endorsed
(8)
– Externally
valued
(7)
• Recognize
diverse
learning
(10)
• Use
badges
as
a
means
of
external
communica1on
of
learning
(11)
• Determine
lifespan
of
badges
(7)
– Never
expires
(7)
– Requires
renewal
or
upgrading
(0)
• Recognize
educator
learning
(7)
• Award
formal
academic
credit
for
badges
(3)
• Promote
discovery
(7)
– Discover
learning
opportuniHes
(5*)
– Discover
learners
(2*)

22. Tracking principles across 3 phases
Intended – Enacted – Formal

23. WHAT CAN WE LEARN?
By identifying design principles

24. What projects have similar
practices, even across different
contexts?

25. What projects have similar
practices, even across different
contexts?
Which principles were easy to
enact? Which were hard?
(Identify common challenges)

26. What projects have similar
practices, even across different
contexts?
Which principles were easy to
enact? Which were hard?
(Identify common challenges)
What contextual factors affected
which principles were enacted?

27. Thank you for listening!
Questions?
http://dpdproject.info
(for more info)

28. Nate
O"o
Project
Coordinator
Design
Principles
DocumentaHon
Project
Indiana
University
@o"onomy