Sign up for Lincs Discussion Today -- This week's discussion on badges and adult literacy

Sign up for LINCS -- Your resource for adult literacy https://community.lincs.ed.gov/home I have heard about badges but really didn't think much of them until I saw this discussion thread.  It reall does look like this could be used for achieving small goals for adult literacy students or for digital literacy training provided by the public library. Post a comment if any of you are currently using or considering using badges! Here is more about this week's discussion from their site ----------------------------------------------------------------- Digital Badges Discussion Starts Today! Join the conversation here. This event runs through December 9 in the Technology and Learning group and will consider the following questions: Question 1. How are badges different from credentialing methods used in the past? Adult education examples may include career pathways, certificates, and stackable credentials.  How are these similar and different from digital badges? (Tuesday, December 3) Question 2. If “the technology for issuing badges is available to anyone with access to the Web,” what then are the roles for quality & content standards (in awarding badges)? Of accreditation?  What are the bottom-up or top-down processes needed for developing badges? (Wednesday, December 4) Question 3. Where do badges derive their value, what is their value, and how might it evolve? (Friday, December 6) Question 4. What adult education issues may arise for public sector (local, state, federal) involvement in badges? For private sector involvement? (Saturday, December 7) Discussion overview: What is a digital badge and how is it different, or similar, to the credentialing systems now in use in adult education? What is the value of digital badges for our education field and how can we use this emerging electronic system to measure or validate individuals’ knowledge and skills? What would an adult education digital badge system look like and which individuals and programs would offer badges? Follow this link http://lincs.ed.gov/professional-development/resource-collections/profile-716 to read The Potential and Value of Using Digital Badges for Adult Learners, a report recently released for public comment by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Vocational and Adult Education, through a contract with the American Institutes for Research (AIR). This exciting discussion will be facilitated by Steve Reder (http://www.pdx.edu/profile/meet-professor-steve-reder) and David Wiley (http://davidwiley.org/), two researchers who bring combined knowledge of adult education, technology, and digital badges to our forum.