Keep learning

Education is increasingly offered freely online through organizations such as edX and Coursera, where credits can be transferred to a credential. This recognizes learners’ desire for agency in acquiring education. Mozilla’s Open Badges program takes this agency further, offering badges that indicate skills gained through practice of an activity outside of school. Badges are passport stamps that emphasize experiential learning. Learning by doing is an important pedagogical principle – practising what you are learning leads to more “sticky knowledge.” Badges let learners display their expertise to potential employers through a social media profile or online resumé. This approach acknowledges that throughout their lives, people will constantly update and acquire credentials and experiences – and that they want to display these as part of their career development.