Figuring Out the When, Where, and Why: An Educational Badge Typology and Badges Impact Survey

• In Event: 26.029 - Student Learning via New Tools and Approaches

Abstract

Video games have often used badges as a measure of achievement, from completing a specific task or showing mastery with a particular skill set. The increasingly frequent adoption of badges within educational contexts is seen as a way to provide a symbolic reward for particular content knowledge, skills, or academic achievements or to make otherwise unclear learning pathways visible. In order to realize the potential of badges for learning contexts, we need to better understand how the badges themselves impact the learner’s experience. To this end, we have conducted interviews with key stakeholders and designed and administered a survey to capture the impact of badges, the Badges Impact Survey (BIS). This paper reports on the findings from the interview research.

Authors

• Melissa L. Biles, New York University

• Jan L. Plass, New York University