Exploring the potential of

Open Badges

How is issued an Open Badges?

If an organisation or community is the issuer of the badge, the badge will be issued to future recipients according to the process defined by the organisation or community:

The badge can be delivered directly to the recipients (the issuer sends the badge to the email address of the recipients who are then free to accept or refuse it).
The badge can be issued using a badge application (the person who wishes to obtain a badge must complete an application form and bring, if necessary, the expected evidence for the examination of this application)
The badge is created and self-assigned by the recipient! It is now possible (since March 2020) for a person to create and issue his or her own badge or to create and issue a badge to another person. This can be done from their Open Badge Passport space (free personal space for storing, managing and sharing badges for recipients). For example, if a person wants to claim and show that he or she has a certain skill or know-how, they can now do so by creating and assigning their own badge, associating evidence and requesting endorsements. This is known as self-assigned badges, or “selfie badges”, where the issuer is also the recipient.

How can I receive and manage Open Badges?

Several cases are possible:

An organisation issues me a badge (following the completion of an online course, for example, or participation in a workshop). I can then store it on my computer and/or transfer it to my personal badge storage space (Open Badge Passport, Badgr Backpack, etc.).
I request a badge from an issuing organisation by completing an online form made available to me. My application may be subject to the provision of proof (or not) justifying my request. My request is examined (or not, if the badge is issued automatically without examination of the request).
I get a key badge automatically (or “metabadge”) that certifies that I have completed a learning path, for example.
A person from my personal environment issues me a badge (for example, because he or she wants to recognise me for a skill, a contribution).
I issue my own a badge that I created because I want to claim something: a know-how, a know-how to be, a contribution, a role, an achievement, etc.

To store and manage my badges, it is preferable – for the moment – to have opened an account on a personal space such as Open Badge Passport or the Badgr Backpack, for example. With Open Badge Passport, I can display my badges on a card, endorse recipients, track profiles or badges, evaluate and discuss around a badge, contact and congratulate a recipient.

However, the development of the Badge PDF by Open Badge Factory now allows me to receive and share a badge without having to open an account on one of the above applications.

Exploring Open Badges with Module 101

Open Badges – Module 101 is a free online training module, created by Philippe Petitqueux and Fabien Paquereau, designed to get you directly into action by requesting your first Open badge.

The module, which lasts about 50 minutes, proposes to experiment with a few uses in order to discover the potential of Open Badges, these new instruments for the recognition of the learning, talents, skills and commitment of lifelong learners that we all are.

Actually only available in french

Create and issue a badge

To create and issue a badge, organisations must use an Open Badge Factory or Badgr creation and issuance platform, for example. However, there are more than 20 providers offering this type of service (see the platform comparison table).

Individuals, since March 2020, can also create and issue badges, assign them to themselves or to other beneficiaries. To do so, they must have or open a free account on Open Badge Passport.

Discover a community of practice with Open Badges

One of the strengths of Open Badges is that they connect people around common practices, common interests, skills, know-how, etc. The Open Badge Passport platform, thanks to the cartography it offers, makes it possible to visualise who are the different recipients of the same badge and to interact with them.

Go further in the exploration of Open Badges by discovering who are the members of the openbadges.info community!

Website proposed by Reconnaître – ORA.