Recognize Students’ Achievements with New Digital Badges Resources

Afterschool Alliance’s new set of resources, “Digital Badges In Afterschool: Connecting Learning in a Connected World,” details digital badging efforts around the country. With support from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the resources include short case studies of badging efforts coordinated by statewide afterschool networks, along with examples of digital badges issued in programs, recommendations for programs that are interested in introducing badges, and lessons that network and program staff learned along the way.

“For today’s youth, learning takes place everywhere. We all know that there are a wealth of opportunities for youth to develop new skills and produce knowledge in afterschool and summer learning spaces, yet recognition of learning and skill development is all too often confined to the classroom, failing to recognize the valuable experiences and knowledge that students gain after the school day ends. A promising new movement to address this problem is gaining traction around micro-credentials called digital badges. Digital badges provide afterschool and summer learning programs with unique opportunities to recognize students’ achievements outside of the classroom.”

Download the Resource (PDF)

By Dan Gilbert

Interested in finding out more? Read the full article at the Afterschool Alliance blog.