Who doesn’t enjoy being recognized for the work that they do? The great thing with Schoology is there is a way to do that, Badges. Some of you have explored this tool already, but I wanted to drill down into badges and badging and why you should do it.

Badges can recognize great work or reward students for using social skills in your classroom. Badges can be used as motivation since they recognize hard work and success of the student’s accomplishment. 

On a basic level, we know there are two different types of motivation for students, extrinsic and intrinsic. Badges can help with both types of motivation. The extrinsic is obvious, since students get a physical reward for something positive that they have done. The intrinsic motivation ultimately helps students create habits that will help develop our students into lifelong learners. I believe that both motivations can work in tandem and ultimately improve the students’ abilities and desires.

A reward system like badging will not only motivate students to learn but their learning can be made more fun and enjoyable. Digital Badging has a gamification aspect to it, since students can have multiple chances of earning the badges. I am including a link to a great PDF from Cate Tolani on badging. Cate Tolnai (@CateTolnai) is the director of member engagement for CUE, the ISTE affiliate in California. She supports the integration of technology and teaching across grade levels and content areas. Recently presenting at MassCue, Tolnai is the co-founder of #Sketch50, a movement to incorporate visual creativity into learning, and #ConnectedTL, a network for teacher-leaders. Cate is one of the authors of ‘Power Up Your Classroom: Reimagine Learning Through Gameplay’ with her colleague at the Krause Center for Innovation at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, California. Cate is an expert when it comes to gamification of your classroom, and this pdf is a great look at how badging can work for you. 

One theme that you will find when you begin to do your own research on badging in the classroom is that most people say similar things. With that in mind, here are the most common characteristics of badging:

Mike’s Keys to Badging

• Every student should have the opportunity to earn them.
• Students should be able to share with each other that they have earned badges.
• The right balance of badges is important. Too little makes them seem hard to attain and too many will devalue them.
• Focus on teamwork and participation, along with academic purposes.
• Make sure the requirement for earning a badge is explicit.

Making Badges

Inside Schoology, you have the ability to create badges that fit your needs. They also have a collection of badges in the public section of resources within Schoology. Check out those directions here. If you find these two options too limiting, then check out these free programs like Canva and Adobe Express. In those two programs you can create your own badges and then you can upload them to Schoology for use with your students.

Other Resources 

Another great resource on badging is from the Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA). In this blog post, they dive into badges in the classroom. Finally, check out our Self-Paced Module in Schoology this fall for creating and using badges or check out our KBA’s inside of our help desk.

2023 School Year  

We have created a digital learning tools pathway for anyone to participate in. Introducing 23 Tools for 2023. We have taken many of the tools that we have available here in the district. There will be badges galore. To get a small preview of what those badges look like, look at the graphic at the top of the page. There will be a leaderboard and monthly prizes. You could even use this in your SEEDs to show professional development!

A few examples of tasks that will earn you points:

• Creating and using Microsoft’s Class Notebook within Schoology
• Taking part in Hour of Code in December and posting about it on Yammer or Twitter
• Using Flip for an assignment
• Collaborate with another teacher on a lesson plan using the OneDrive
• Use Microsoft Forms to collect data or information from students, parents or other staff members (One example would be collecting parent information on Back-to-School Night by leaving a laptop open with a form that they fill in. Just an idea)
• Presenting a digital tool to your school through an extended day of PD Day
• Create and use a Nearpod lesson with your students

And so many more…I mean there’s 23 tools that you can earn points for after all.

When the new school year begins, we want to help you set personal learning goals to help you grow into an even more amazing educator. Let’s make 2023 a year of epic successes by completing the 23 Tech Tool Challenge!

To view and participate in the 2023 Tools Challenge here!

Click here to access the leaderboard!