How to use Open Badges

    Every course on atingi platform offers a digital credential for learners when they complete a course. In addition to 'atingi certificate', there is also another option called 'Open Badge.'  

     

    An Open Badge is a global standard for digital credentials. It is a digital image that contains a unique link to a website which describes the competencies a learner acquired to earn it. 

     

    Open Badge is a great option when you have several courses that are related to one another; they can be combined into one learning pathway. If you want to award learners who complete all the courses listed within a specific pathway, you may do so with Open Badge.   

     

    This means that you can choose to issue your badges both as “Standalone” (One badge per one course) and “Compound” (One badge per one set of courses) credentials. 

    How to use Open Badge 

    atingi provides Open Badges through the platform Open Badge Factory (OBF), where the badge will be created; here is a preview of what the form looks like in which we will be entering your badge text on OBF: 

     

     

     

     

    You will need to prepare the following materials and metadata for us to set up a badge: 

    • Badge image in PNG format. Below you can see some examples of how it looks like. The logos of atingi and of the involved organization(s) are included. While there is no fixed size requirement, the file should be in square image, e.g. 100x100 px, or 800x800 according to one of the examples. 

     

     

    • Description of what the badge is about and how it is earned. For example, a statement describing that a learner has completed a specific course, set of courses and therefore having met the requirements to earn this badge 

    • Relevant keywords to be displayed as hashtags 

     

    • Criteria of how this badge is awarded, including objectives, skills and competencies the badge offers to learners 

     

    • Skills alignments according to the European Skills, Competences, and Occupations (ESCO), you can list down the relevant skills, competences and occupation-related keywords to be included in your badge information. For example, if the topic of your course is about Tourism & Hospitality, you may consider including this skill alignment: “ensure safety in hospitality establishment” 

    • E-mail Message which will be sent to learners along with their badges 

     

     

    We also provide a template document in which you can adjust and customize your own text. 

     

    Once we receive all these materials and metadata from you, we will create a badge on the Open Badge platform and link it to your course on atingi. 

    Badges Endorsements 

    A badge can have higher value and credentials through an endorsement from organizations. As a partner, you can endorse a badge of your interest, and your endorsement will be displayed as part of the badge’s description. 

     

    To endorse a badge, go to Open Badge Factory and follow the following steps: 

    • In the Creator Tools/Badge Library, choose a badge that you want to endorse and click ‘edit’ 

     

    •  Go to the ‘Endorsements’ section 

     

    • After that, click on ‘New Endorsement Request’ 

     

    • As an endorsement partner, you can decide about the text that you would like to have displayed in the endorsement. We also have some text templates for you to help you get started with it and customize it as you like.  

    • Click ‘Send’ after you have filled out the message. Then, you will receive an e-mail from Open Badge with a link to the endorsement form. 

         

     

    • After you have clicked on the link to get the endorsement form, you will see an overview similar to this one: 

     

    • Scroll down and fill in the text in the endorsement form that you would like to have displayed in the Open Badge. 

     

    • Next, upload your organization’s logo and fill in your organization’s name, URL, and e-mail address 

     

    Your logo should follow these requirements:  

    • Square image, e.g. 100x100 px 

    • Format: PNG or SVG 

    • Size: max. 250 kB 

    • Click on the button ‘Endorse badge’ 

     

    Your endorsement will be visible in the badge as follows:  

      

    How to use Open Badge for learners 

    Learners can collect badges earned in courses on atingi, or other e-learning platforms. 

     

    On atingi, once learners complete a course that awards Open Badge as a digital credential, they will receive a badge automatically via E-mail and on their atingi profile.  

     

    Everyone will receive an E-mail to claim their badge online.  

     

    Click on the hyperlink “Claim your badge to share it online”, a page that describes the skills and competencies of that badge will pop up.  

     

    Learners can share their badges in CV or on their social media platforms such as LinkedIn, as well as print the badge document on paper or save as a PDF. 

     

    Additionally, learners can also go to Profile to check, any badges earned will appear under the section ‘Badges earned on atingi’.   

     

     

     

     

    Limitations 

    There are some important things to consider before deciding whether your course is suitable for Open Badge or not. 

    • Badge description layout is currently not as customizable as that of the atingi certificate PDF.  

    • Learners need to be tech savvy (i.e. able to use email & social media) to navigate the world of digital badges  

    • As a badge requires more information to display, such as the qualifications and criteria to earn a badge, the process of setting up a badge tends to be time-consuming. 

    • Limited issuance of badges based on certain types of subscription on the Open Badge platform. 

    Published