Chapter 1
Introduction
With more students pursuing higher education there has been concern as to how to differentiate student’s academic experiences, as well as how to recognize informal learning that may be valuable within the workplace. Many are looking toward Digital Badges as a solution to this potentially growing problem (Grant, 2014). Mozilla’s Open Badges was one of the first platforms to offer ways for individuals to recognize learning outside of the formal classroom. They define the purpose of Digital Badges is to, “get recognition for learning that happens anywhere. Then share it on the places that matter”(Mozilla, n.d., n.p.) . With origins found within organizations like, Boys and Girls Scouting, “Digital Badges are an assessment
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Balzer, Doherty, and O'Connor (1989) and Butler and Winne (1995) classify the functions of feedback within two distinct categories: outcome feedback and cognitive feedback. Yang and Carless (2013) examine the dimensions that affect feedback, focusing on contextual and external factors. Whereas Nicol and Macfarlane‐Dick (2006) appeal to the practitioner in directly joining the Seven Principles of Good Practice (Chickering & Gamson, 1987) specifically to feedback in their model. The authors draw from the body of literature surrounding self-regulated learning where they position feedback as a tool used to motivate and aid students during learning. Together these authors have provided a good picture of the role feedback plays, how to classify it, and how to identify factors that influence good …show more content…
A critical component of Mastery-based learning is the role of instructional feedback. Digital Badges and Mastery-based learning coincide. While the research surrounding Mastery-based learning and feedback is plentiful, very little has yet to be published regarding Digital Badge systems. This study will begin to inform instructors as they begin to implement the blending of these instructional approaches and technologies within their own courses. This study will add additional support to the body of feedback literature, and attempts to identify feedback approaches from the perspective of both the teacher and student. Furthermore, this study will add to the knowledge surrounding Digital Badges, and of how badges might be used in formal education contexts to meet the growing needs of 21st century