Keep Learning.

Using Digital Badges for Contract Training and Continuing Education

Kathleen Radionoff Dean of Continuing EducationMadison Collegekradionoff@madisoncollege.edu(608) 258-2309

Overview

• Non-Credit Training Landscape

• Integrity of Digital Badging

• Madison College’s Digital Badge Journey• Lessons learned

• Digital Badge Strategy

Madison College Continuing Education Program

• Madison Area Technical College serves more than 44,000 students at 11 locations in portions of 12 counties

• Continuing Education served 14440 during FY12-13 individuals and year-to-date FY13-14

• Broad programming range

• Significant programming shift in 2011-12

Trends in Non-Credit Training

Trends in Non-Credit Training

• 20.8 million students participate in non-credit programs

• Two year schools: 6.5m credit/5m non-credit

• Adult students and informal learning

• Lack of evaluation system to link non-credit coursework to credit credentials

"Badges can help speed the shift from credentials that simply

measure seat time, to ones that more accurately measure

competency.”

~Arne Duncan, 2011

Badges Simplified

Who did it?

What did they do?

Who says they did it?

Defining Digital Badges

• Digital Badges make accomplishments and experiences visible to a wide audience.

• Digital Badges support learning that happens in new ways and new spaces.

• Digital Badges provide a more complete picture of one’s skills, achievements and qualities.

Why Badges?

• Assessment of non-credit learning outcomes

• Employer needs

• Non-credit to credit pathway

• Major program shift towards professional development

Madison College CE Customer Profile

• Student self reported data shows high percentage of customers with post-secondary degrees• Not likely to pursue additional degree credit

• PRIZM clusters: Executive Suites, Young Influentials, Up and Comers• College educated• Professional occupations• Middle to upper income

• Customer data indicates likely interest in digital badges

2012-13 Badge Pilot

• Program selection

• Criteria

• Designing the Badges

• Individual topics

• Master badges

Lessons Learned

• Faculty and students not familiar with badges

• Vendor platform very unstable

• Importance of instructional design

• Instructional and marketing resources going forward

• Reality check with college’s strategic direction and key initiatives

)

Impact Initiative

Research Results

• Changing Options in Academic Credentialing• Alternatives to degree credit

• Workforce Skills

• Non-credit training viable option

• 77% of employers said incumbent employees need additional skills training

Digital Badge Roll-Out

• Business Strategy

• Marketing Plan

• Communication Campaign

• Instructional Design

• Faculty Support

• Student Support

Open Badges vs. Digital Badges

Other Strategic Considerations

• Moving badges from academia to the employer

• Importance of instructional design and faculty support

• Scope and scale for your program• Can you afford to implement badges?• Can you afford not to?

Audience Poll

Are you working with industry associations or employers to establish badge standards?

Yes

No

Thinking about it

Technology Platform

• Beta site for Pearson’s Acclaim system

• Not tied to Peoplesoft

• Not integrated with Blackboard

• Need for LMS-light system

Infrastructure Needs

• Scale and service levels• Feature set for large and/or complex

organizations• Analytics, tracking and reporting• Secure verification and credibility• Overall program design and

implementation services• Ensure alignment to key business drivers

and metrics

Marketing Plan

• Competitive advantage

• Customer segments

• Channel strategy

• Creating demand

• Marketing communications

• Badge Product Lines

Channel Strategy

Communications Campaign

• Earn a badge: Digital Badge Educator

• Employer Presentations

• Professional Development

• Contract Training

• Technical Assistance to Employers

• LinkedIn Showcase Page & Blog Space

Digital Badge Design Strategy

1. Define your company’s purpose for digital badges

2. Determine required/supplemental course material

3. Review current/create new curriculum

4. Identify course learning objectives

5. Align learning objectives with national/employer standards

Creating Learning Objectives Utilizing Bloom’s Taxonomy

Bloom’s Taxonomy

Synthesis

Evaluation

Analysis

Application

Comprehension

Knowledge

Learner has proof, certified by a recognized institution, of ‘ability

to create’ according to industry

standards.

Digital Badge

Certified by

recognized brand

Articulates marketable

skill(s)

Demonstrates proof of learning (rigor)

Aligns to industry

&/or employer standards

Elements of a Quality Badge

How do you articulate a single digital badge into a

series of courses?

Instructional Design Plan

Instructional Design Plan

Faculty Support

• What is a Digital Badge?

• Acclaim - Our Digital Badging Solution

• How to Create Learning Objectives

(includes a downloadable document for the

instructor to submit to create his/her badges)

• Role of a Digital Badge Instructor (will include

the student training module)

• FAQs

Student Support

• What is a Digital Badge

• Using Acclaim

• Viewing Badges

• Sharing Badges

• FAQs

Develop Business Plan

Create Badges

Issue/Earn BadgesShare Badges

Reporting & Accountability

Questions?

Thank You!

Contact Information:

kradionoff@madisoncollege.edu

(608) 258-2309