Digital Open Badge-Driven Learning : Practical Applications to Support Emerging Ecosystems

Abstract

There is a growing demand for economically effective accreditation practices that respond individually to local challenges and unique professional needs. Digital open badges offer to inform and improve learning outcomes, but also to scaffold and assess learning, thus permitting efficient use of learning analytics and inspiring gamification that supports consistent competence development as a continuum. This conference paper summarises the latest research concerning digital open badge-driven learning, and related development of assessment practices and digital open badges.

The entity of digital open badge-driven learning includes learning materials, badge criteria, instructional badging, scaffolding and peer support. The process model of digital open badge-driven learning is grounded on the badge constellation of competences. This summary offers insights and examples of applying the competence-based approach, digital open badges and gamification in professional development to meet teachers’ personal needs for their working lives. In addition, it represents the current state of emerging ecosystems related to open badges in Finland.