How to Use Badges (Creation and Issuance)

How to Use Badges (Creation and Issuance)

Overview

Badges are a powerful way to recognize and reward achievement, skills, and participation. They can motivate learners and provide tangible acknowledgment of their progress. This guide outlines the steps to create and issue badges within the LMS.

This guide will help users to use badge, covering creation, issuance and best practices.


Understanding Badges

There are two types of badges:

  • Site Badges: These are available site-wide and typically awarded for activities spanning multiple courses.
  • Course Badges: These are specific to individual courses and tied to activities or criteria within that course

Enable Badges

Step 1: Navigate to Site Administration > Advanced Features.
Step 2: Ensure the Enable Badges option is checked.
Step 3: Save changes


Configuring Badge Settings

Step 1: Go to Site Administration > Badges > Badges Settings.
Step 2: Configure settings such as the issuer name and email (e.g., the organization issuing the badges)
Step 3: Save changes.



Creating a Badge

A. For Course Badges

Step 1: Go to the desired course. 
Step 2: Click More in the navigation menu and select Badges > Add a New Badge.

Step 3: Fill out the following details:
    • Name: Provide a clear and concise badge name.
    • Description: Describe what the badge represents.
    • Image: Upload a badge image (in PNG or SVG format). Ensure it visually reflects the achievement.


Step 4: Click Create Badge.



B. For Site Badges

Step 1: Navigate to Site Administration > Badges > Add a New Badge.
Step 2: Complete the same details as in course badges.
Step 3: Click Create Badge.

Setting Badge Criteria

Step 1: After creating a badge, you’ll be prompted to add criteria.
Step 2: Choose from the following options:
o Manual Issue by Role: Badge can be manually awarded by users with specific roles (e.g., teacher, manager).
o Activity Completion: Awarded when a student completes specific activities (e.g., quizzes, assignments).
o Completing a set of courses: Awarded upon completing the entire course.
o Awarded badges: Awarded to users based on other badges they have earned.
o Profile Completion: Awarded when a user completes their profile.
o Cohort Membership: Awarded to users based on cohort membership
o Competencies: Awarded to users based on competencies they have completed

Step 3: Configure the selected criteria.
Step 4: Click Save.


Enabling and Issuing the Badge

A. Enable the Badge

Step 1: Once criteria are set, click Enable Access.
Step 2: Confirm the badge will be available to users.

B. Issuing the Badge

Badges can be issued automatically based on criteria or manually by assigned roles.

Automatic Issuance

  • Once a user meets the criteria, the badge is awarded automatically, and they receive a notification.

Manual Issuance

Step 1: Navigate to the badge under Course or Site Badges.
Step 2: Select Award Badge.
Step 3: Choose the users to receive the badge and click Award Badge.

Managing and Viewing Badges

A. Badge Reports

Step 1: Go to Site Administration > Badges > Manage Badges (for site badges) or More > Badges > Manage Badges (for course badges).
Step 2: View details about issued badges, recipients, and criteria.

B. User Badge Display

  • Users can view their badges under Profile > Badges.
  • Badges can also be displayed on external platforms like Mozilla Backpack or Badgr for further recognition.


Best Practices for Badge Design and Use

• Design Thoughtfully: Use distinct visuals for badges to make them meaningful and recognizable.
• Align with Objectives: Ensure badges reflect clear goals, skills, or achievements.
• Communicate Criteria: Make it clear to learners what they need to do to earn badges.
• Track Engagement: Use badge reports to monitor how badges are motivating learners.