Relational Map coming soon. Learn more about the work we’re doing with AI and view our example prototypes here.
The term badge backpack is the original descriptor of Open Badges services that include badge importing, aggregation, and hosting. Also referred to as wallets, passports, and portfolios, badge backpacks help to organize items like badges and credentials for recipients. Recipients earn and are awarded competencies or credentials after completing a course of study, passing an assessment, or meeting specified requirements. These official documents need to be tracked and organized, in order to be useful to the recipients. Badge backpacks demonstrate qualifications or competencies issued by a third party with relevant authority.
The most common types of credentials awarded in the learn-and-work ecosystem include but are not limited to degrees, academic diplomas, licenses, certificates, security clearances, identification documents, professional and industry certifications, and badges. Badges use digital technologies to show learning achievements, and open badges use standards that support portability and ecosystem connections.
Badges can be created or awarded by employers, education institutions, or other organizations. Badge criteria are publicly viewable, embedded in the badge, and also verifiable. Badges are flexible, and can expire or be revoked.
Badge backpacks relate to documented awards by responsible and authorized bodies that demonstrate that an individual has achieved certain learning outcomes or knowledge levels. Badges are used to represent competencies as well as show linked experiences and learning. Badges are often used in conjunction with modular learning, degree pathways, and other credentialing. Badges can represent credentialing. Because of these reasons, badges and badge backpacks fall under the umbrellas of verification, standards, and data.
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