Mozilla Open Badges
 | |
| Web address |
openbadges |
|---|---|
| Launched | 15 September 2011 |
| Current status | Active |
The Mozilla Open Badges (Open Badge Infrastructure or OBI) project is a program by Mozilla that issues digital badges to recognize skills and achievements. The badge structure allows one to display real-world achievements and skills which may help with future career and education opportunities. The OBI allows badge issuers and developers to build badges, and allows online learners to choose from a number of different pathways for development.
Purpose of badges
The badges issued by the Open Badges project are digital indicators of skills learned inside or outside the classroom. Open Badges differ from purely visual representations of badges in that they contain metadata indicating the badge issuer, criteria for the badge, and other information, all of which is hard-coded into the image file itself. The technology supports a range of badge types, developed in conjunction with the badge issuer. Badges may point to "hard skills" such as computer programming, as well as "soft skills" like collaboration or "new skills" like social media and Web 2.0 topics. They can be issued by traditional educational institutions, professional bodies, community learning organizations, after-school programs, or online initiatives (including MOOCs).
Badge issuers
NASA, Disney-Pixar, 4-H,[1] and DigitalMe[2] have developed badges for the Open Badges project. The ability to issue badges was integrated into TotaraLMS for the 2.4 release,[3] Moodle for the 2.5 release,[4] Blackboard for the Service Pack 12 release,[5] and the Open EdX platform release FY2015 Q4.[6] Mozilla has additionally stated that PBS, P2PU, Intel and the US Department of Education all plan to issue badges through the Open Badges project.[7]
Technical documentation
- The OBI is built in node.js using express.
- Badges are represented by JSON data blobs embedded in PNG files in the Backpack
- Identity management is handled by Mozilla Persona
References
- ↑ Walton, Zach (April 10, 2012). "Mozilla Open Badges Enters Public Beta".
- ↑ "Rewarding 21st Century Skills with Mozilla Open Badges" (Press release). PRWeb. April 26, 2012.
- ↑ "TotaraLMS Roadmap".
- ↑ "Moodle 2.5 Release Notes".
- ↑ "Blackboard Achievements Release Notes".
- ↑ "Open edX digital badges feature".
- ↑ "Mozilla Launches Open Badges Project" (Press release). Mozilla. September 15, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2012.