A Meta-Analysis on the Implementation of Digital Badges in Educational Settings

• In Event: 21.057 - Cognition and Emotion in Game-Based Learning Environments

Abstract

Since the emergence of digital badges in education, there have been studies that address how their implementation influences student motivation, engagement, and content mastery. To date, there has been one single meta-study of digital badges (Falkner & Falkner, 2014), but no meta-analysis that considers their effectiveness. The current meta-analysis studies the impact of digital badges on learning outcomes (mastery of content) and learning processes (motivation and engagement). Four meta-analyses were performed in this study using 15 articles containing 46 effects. The meta-analyses showed that the implementation of digital badges in an educational setting have significant, positive effects on both students’ learning outcome and learning process, particularly in higher education math and science related courses.

Authors

• Barbara Lopez, The University of New Mexico

• Manuel Jimenez, The University of New Mexico

• Liza Kittinger, The University of New Mexico

• Victor Law, University of New Mexico

• Paige Prescott, University of New Mexico

• Sharon Schaaf, The University of New Mexico

• Zahira Merchant, San Francisco State University