{"id":10104,"date":"2024-10-31T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-10-31T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/?p=10104"},"modified":"2024-11-14T17:42:37","modified_gmt":"2024-11-14T17:42:37","slug":"how-to-encourage-student-engagement-using-digital-badges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/2024\/10\/31\/how-to-encourage-student-engagement-using-digital-badges\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Encourage Student Engagement (Using Digital Badges)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>by Faye Brockwell, Learning Technologist<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/20241107_Digital_Badges_EE_Blog.mp3\"><\/audio><figcaption>Listen to the audio version of this blog post<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image001.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image001-1024x239.png\" alt=\"5 digital badges issued by the School of Psychology. All 5 badges are hexagonal. The first has the image of a seagull, with the text \u201cUS PYS-GULL-OGY\u201d. The second has an image of two hands with one hand helping the other up, with the text \u201csavioR\u201d. The third simply has the text \u201cR Studio\u201d. The fourth has the image of cool looking girl from a graphic novel, holding a gun, with the text \u201cdiscovR\u201d. The last has an image of easter eggs on the ground in a woodland.\" class=\"wp-image-10106\" width=\"768\" height=\"179\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image001-1024x239.png 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image001-300x70.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image001-768x179.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image001-100x23.png 100w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image001-150x35.png 150w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image001-200x47.png 200w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image001-450x105.png 450w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image001-600x140.png 600w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image001-900x210.png 900w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image001.png 1380w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Colleagues in the School of Psychology are exploring the use of Canvas Credentials Badges to encourage student engagement on their Discovering Statistics module. The team had already introduced a gamification element to the statistical methods modules, by way of awarding highly-prized* physical Hex stickers to students for reaching key milestones, and were keen to try Canvas Badges as a way of managing the distribution of digital versions of the stickers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr Danielle Evans, Lecturer in Psychology, says \u201cThe process of setting up and using Canvas Badges has been surprisingly easy and straightforward. From creating and customising the badges to integrating them with our course, it\u2019s all been smooth. It\u2019s been great to see how students respond, with many engaging more actively to earn their badges and the sticker version of them we&#8217;ll hand out at the end of term.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>So what exactly are Canvas Credentials Badges?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Formerly known as badgr, Canvas Credentials Badges allows you to create and award Open Badges. Open Badges are digital certificates recognising learning and achievement. They can be awarded privately, within our Canvas Learning Management System, to encourage engagement on modules, as is happening in the School of Psychology. But there\u2019s more to digital badges than just a sticker. Digital badges \u201c<em>contain metadata within that provides exhaustive information about the tasks performed, criteria of their assessment, the time needed to perform and the volume of the task, etc., that serves in increasing transparency of assessment<\/em>\u201d. (Trepul\u00e9 et al, 2021, p132). When digital badges are made public, and students share them, for instance via their LinkedIn profile, the metadata can be read by anyone and serves to give the badges credibility. The <a href=\"https:\/\/uoe.eu.badgr.com\/public\/organization\/badges\">University of Edinburgh\u2019s badges site<\/a> shows some good examples of what open badges can be used for, including badges for Digital Skills and Community Engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image003.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image003-1024x203.png\" alt=\"4 of Edinburgh\u2019s digital skills badges, all showing the University of Edinburgh\u2019s logo. The first badge is \u201c23 Things for Digital Knowledge\u201d. The remaining three badges are for \u201cDeveloping Your Data Skills\u201d levels 1, 2 and 3.\" class=\"wp-image-10107\" width=\"768\" height=\"152\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image003-1024x203.png 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image003-300x59.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image003-768x152.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image003-100x20.png 100w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image003-150x30.png 150w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image003-200x40.png 200w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image003-450x89.png 450w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image003-600x119.png 600w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image003-900x178.png 900w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image003.png 1380w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3>So, how does Canvas Credentials Badges work in Canvas?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Once Educational Enhancement add the Canvas Credentials app to your Canvas site, you can then create the badges you need. You can either upload your own designs, as Dr Evans and her colleagues have done with the beautiful Hex stickers, or use Canvas\u2019s in-built badge designer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image005.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image005-1024x854.png\" alt=\"Canvas Badges Create Badge interface, showing the options to design a badge, including badge icon, colour and badge shape\" class=\"wp-image-10108\" width=\"768\" height=\"641\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image005-1024x854.png 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image005-300x250.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image005-768x641.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image005-100x83.png 100w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image005-150x125.png 150w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image005-200x167.png 200w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image005-450x375.png 450w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image005-600x500.png 600w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image005-900x751.png 900w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image005.png 1380w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>You then choose how to award the badges. Canvas can automatically award students a badge for completing a certain activity, such as contributing to a discussion, or reaching a certain score in a quiz. Alternatively, you can choose to award badges manually, with options to award badges in bulk via a spreadsheet. Students can see the badges they can aim for on the module, and track their progress via the Canvas Credentials screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image007.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image007-1024x486.png\" alt=\"The \u201cMy Badge Progress\u201d screen within student view on the Discovering Statistics Canvas module site. The screen shows all of the badges that the student can earn, with the criteria for each badge. The student can also see which badges they have earned so far.\" class=\"wp-image-10109\" width=\"768\" height=\"365\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image007-1024x486.png 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image007-300x142.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image007-768x364.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image007-100x47.png 100w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image007-150x71.png 150w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image007-200x95.png 200w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image007-450x214.png 450w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image007-600x285.png 600w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image007-900x427.png 900w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image007.png 1378w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr Evans has gone one step further, and has even written some code to set up a leaderboard, to \u201cadd a fun, competitive edge that motivates students.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image009.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image009-1024x584.png\" alt=\"The leaderboard showing which students have earned the most badges on the Discovering Statistics module.\" class=\"wp-image-10110\" width=\"768\" height=\"438\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image009-1024x584.png 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image009-300x171.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image009-768x438.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image009-100x57.png 100w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image009-150x86.png 150w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image009-200x114.png 200w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image009-450x257.png 450w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image009-600x342.png 600w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image009-900x513.png 900w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/11\/image009.png 1377w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Dr Evans \u201cthe badge system has been incredibly useful for monitoring student engagement with various tasks and course components. Overall, it\u2019s been a simple yet effective way to enhance the learning experience. I&#8217;d definitely encourage others to give it a go!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>How to get started with Canvas Credential Badges<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s a little bit of set up before you can start using Canvas Badges with your students, so if you\u2019d like to use Canvas Badges, contact your Learning Technologist by emailing <a href=\"mailto:ee@sussex.ac.uk\">ee@sussex.ac.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>*The Hex badges in School of Psychology are highly prized by me. I\u2019m still hoping to get my hands on a Hex sticker for joining some of their great staff R workshops.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Further reading<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Elena TREPUL\u0116 <em>et al.<\/em> (2021) \u2018How to Increase the Value of Digital Badges for Assessment and Recognition in Higher Education. A University Case\u2019, <em>Informatics in education<\/em>, 20(1), pp. 131\u2013152. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.15388\/infedu.2021.07\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.15388\/infedu.2021.07<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Law, V. <em>et al.<\/em> (2024) \u2018A meta-analysis of digital badges in learning environments in educational settings\u2019, <em>Educational Technology <\/em><em>\uff06<\/em><em> Society<\/em>, 27(3), pp. 29\u201345. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.30191\/ETS.202407_27(3).RP02\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.30191\/ETS.202407_27(3).RP02<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>by Faye Brockwell, Learning Technologist Colleagues in the School of Psychology are exploring the use of Canvas Credentials Badges to encourage student engagement on their Discovering Statistics module. The team had already introduced a gamification element to the statistical methods<span class=\"ellipsis\">&hellip;<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/2024\/10\/31\/how-to-encourage-student-engagement-using-digital-badges\/\">Read more &#8250;<\/a><\/div>\n<p><!-- end of .read-more --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":390,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[137836,157016,123543],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10104"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/390"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10104"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10104\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10111,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10104\/revisions\/10111"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10104"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10104"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10104"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}