You will hear a lot about "badges" this semester. Basically, every assignment in this class is a badge that you can earn. Assignments = badges, although you can get a grade on the assignment and not get the badge if you did not do everything to a high level of competency. This may be a new thing for many of you (although we feel this is a new trend in education, and one you'll see more of in the future), so here are some answers to questions you probably have.

Why Badges?

Taking a course on instructional technology is great, it increases your skills using today's technologies and helps you understand how they can be used in the classroom.

The problem is, at the end of the course what you learned is not easily shared with others. You can tell them you completed IPT 286, but what does that really mean? And if you took the class five years ago, what technologies did you learn then? They may be different now. Plus, if you went above and beyond by learning more technologies in your course, that doesn't show on the transcript. So teachers needed a way to better show what their students knew and could do then simply checking a box showing they completed a course.

What are Badges?

Mozilla Open Badges are one way that you will be able to display your mastery of the individual technologies you learned. Think of them as merit badges for Boy Scouts. But instead of getting a badge on fishing or knot tying, your badges will include Internet Safety, Website Creation, and YouTube. Also, your badges are digital and can be shared with anyone that has an internet connection. A badge shows exactly what technologies you know because you get different badges for each technology. These badges can be displayed on your website, or in your Mozilla profile, which we created the first week of class. It also shows others what exactly you know about that technology, because when they click on the badge, it takes them to a list of criteria for earning the badge, and the thing you created to earn it. So it links evidence to assessment.

How Does it Work?

We provide you a rubric of what we feel you need to know about the technology in order to use it in the classroom. Then, we provide you with the support you need to learn it. Each technology has a list of tutorials that take you step by step through that technology and helps you master it. When you have met the requirements, we issue you a badge, a digital image that contains information proving we accredit your learning of that technology. This digital badge is stored in your Mozilla Backpack and can be shared with anyone you like by displaying it on your website, through social media, or other means.

What Badges are Offered?

Our catalog of available badges is increasing every day. If the technology you want to learn isn't offered, request it. Check out our website at iptedtec.org to see our list of badges.

How Does This Relate to My Grade in the Course?

If you are enrolled in IP&T 286 as a BYU student, the rubrics for the technology badges are the same as the rubrics for the class assignments. However, the standard will be a little higher for earning the badges. In other words, you may get an A on the assignment by doing everything in the rubric, but not earn the badge if we feel you did "just the minimum" and didn't really show true competency. If all you wanted was the grade, then you are fine! If you want the badge but didn't quite earn it, we'll give you feedback about what you need to improve.

Let's Get Started

If you came the first week to our in person meeting, then we helped you create your Mozilla profile. We will send the badges you earn to your profile, and let you know by email. You don't need to do anything ... unless you don't get the email telling you that you earned the badge. In that case, if you still want to earn the badge, you would need to revise your work and email us when you are ready to have us look at it.

If you missed the in person meeting the first week of class, then try creating your Mozilla profile at this website:

http://backpack.openbadges.org/backpack/login

Be sure to use the email that BYU has listed for you, or tell us which email you used instead so we know where to send the badges. If you get stuck, come meet with either of us to get help creating your Mozilla profile.

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