Digital badges are a way to document skills, experiences and achievements. Digital badges are portable through Mozilla's Backpack, and allow the user to combine badges from different sources to better articulate themselves to an audience on almost any digital platform. At McMaster digital badges are issued through Avenue to Learn, where students or other users can then export badges to their personal Mozilla Backpack, for display elsewhere.

For more information:

Open Badges: http://openbadges.org

The Mozilla Backpack is a third-party solution for badge earners to store their badges independently of the system that issued them. This is an important step for lifelong learning recognition. The badge earner can use Mozilla Backpack to then display their badge collections on social media sites.

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/what-is-a-mozilla-backpack

In D2L's documentation, Badges are referred to as Awards, so if you are looking for D2L related information on badges, remember to also search for Awards.

Badges Tool Quick Guide https://community.brightspace.com/sharedresources/sharedfiles/awards_tool_quick_reference_guide

Currently, Instructors should consult with Jon Kruithof, kruithj@mcmaster.ca, for badge creation and access to issue badges.

Joyce Seitzinger's TEDx talk about digital badges.

For questions or concerns, Avenue support is available from Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM at (905) 525-9140 ext. 23757 or by completing the intake form located at http://avenue.mcmaster.ca/support/