Scaffolds: Experimenting with student­-driven digital badging in an iSchool context

Abstract

Digital badge systems can be contentious to start and challenging to implement. In this project, we examine the development of an open, student-­led, peer-­to-­peer badging framework within an iSchool context. Scaffolds is a dynamic set of digital badges created to give students more concrete guidance in their exploration of the field of information science. The badges provide a way for students to customize their exploration of co­-curricular materials and activities to augment their educational experience. Using motivation and perception surveys, as well as in­-depth interviews with participants, the goal of this research is to understand what motivates students to participate in digital badges programs and how an open badging platform can be used to encourage student engagement in co-­curricular educational activities.