In today’s technologically inclined world, digital badges allow testimonials, plaques, or certificates to be awarded electronically. Due to advancements in technology, staying up-to-date by improving skill sets or learning in-demand skills is necessary. Digital badges offer a transparent way to validate, showcase, and share resumes.
The rise of AI and advanced editing tools has also led to an increase in certificate forgery. Forgery diminishes the value of a certificate. Consequently, employers and organizations incur additional costs just to verify the authenticity of documents. All this can be eliminated by using secure and immutable digital badges for award certification.
In this article explains what digital badges are, their uses, and the benefits they offer to both individuals and organizations.
What are Digital Badges?
A digital badge is a digital representation of an individual’s achievements, skills, or accomplishments. A digital badge is a verifiable, web-based icon or logo that displays and authenticates credentials.
Digital badges are not only visual images or logos; these images represent certain qualifications and skills. In addition, they contain metadata that provides additional information about the badge.
In this internet age, digital badging offers a number of benefits to both individuals and organizations. They are essential to create trust and authenticity.
Why are Digital Badges Important?
Here are 3 important reasons why digital badges are important:
- Skills Verifications:
Digital badges make it easy for employers to verify the skills and qualifications of an employer. A digital badge can contain an employer’s skills, qualifications, course certifications, etc.
- Convenience:
A digital badge offers a convenient way to save and share digital skills, qualifications, or achievements. In addition, digital badge in education makes it convenient for online education institutions to certify students.
- Transparency:
Digital badges offer transparency and trust in a credential. They contain metadata that contains the issuer, earning requirements, the date earned, and other relevant information concerning the badge.
With all this information, the question “are digital badges worth it?” The answer to the question is yes. It’s worth buying for both individuals and businesses. It provides a convenient and reliable way to showcase an individual’s skills and achievements.
How do Digital Badges Work?
Digital badges work as a representation of achievements using a visual image embedded with metadata. Educational institutions, employers, or organizations create and issue them through digital badge software. The typical way digital badges way work is thus:
An organization issues a digital badge to recognize an accomplishment. Each digital badge contains metadata with relevant information about the badge, such as the issuer(institution), date earned, and criteria. Then, the recipient receives the badge upon completion of the requirement, and it can be displayed on websites and social media. These digital badges can also be shared with employers.
Viewers can click on these digital badges to verify the authenticity of the badge. The viewers can see the requirements for earning, the issuer (educational institution), and other relevant information.
How to Use Digital Badges?
Digital badges are used across different industries and organizations because of their versatility. Institutions issue them as rewards for completing a feat, tasks, or achievements. Here are the 4 common Digital badge examples and use cases:
Certifications:
Digital badges are used as proof of completing a course. It is an excellent replacement or complement to traditional paper certificates. Individuals can demonstrate their skills and expertise for visibility and better job opportunities.
Educational Institutions:
Online educational programs use digital badges to reward students for completing a course. Digital badges are easy to track, verifiable, and a source of motivation for students to complete an achievement.
Employers:
Employers can track the authenticity of an applicant’s skills. They can verify the date the badge was earned and the issuer. A Digital badge is used to track the professional development of an employee.
Non-Profit Work:
Digital badges are used as a reward system for volunteering in a project. It also contributes to motivating participants to complete tasks and demonstrate their involvement.
What Are The Benefits Of Digital Badges For Organizations?
Verifiable digital badges offer numerous benefits to organizations. Here are the 5 benefits of digital badges for organizations;
- Reward System,
- Badging Programs,
- Motivation,
- Branding and Marketing,
- Recruitment Process.
Reward System
Digital badges in education are used as a reward and recognition system. Educational organizations issue digital badges to recognize students for course completion. Using digital badges as a recognition system for an achievement raises the value and credibility of that award. It eliminates the potential risk of fraudsters creating fake credentials, unlike paper certificates.
Badging Programs
Organizations set up badging programs when developing a learning pathway. Badges are used as a reward or recognition for attaining a milestone in the learning pathway. Badging programs are a source of motivation for people to complete an achievement or learning pathway.
Motivation
Digital badges for employees are used to drive motivation in an organization. People are motivated to pursue certifications, upskill their abilities, pursue lifelong learning, and get involved with events when they anticipate receiving a shareable, verifiable award. The excitement of flexing on an achievement is another motivation for people to see a task to the end.
Branding and Marketing
Organizations use digital credentials to represent their brands and as a marketing strategy. Issuing digital credentials for professional development sets an organization apart from its competitors and proves its commitment to quality training. This helps to promote the brand image.
Recruitment Process
Digital credentials are used in the recruitment process to assess the qualifications of potential employees. An organization can identify the right employee with credible digital credentials with a quick and simple check. Digital credentials facilitate quick recruitment and eliminate the risk of hiring a faux.
What Are The Benefits of Digital Badges For Individuals?
Here are 5 benefits of digital credentials for individuals:
- Portability
- Privacy
- Transparency
- Increased Employability
- Global Recognition
Portability and Accessibility
Digital credentials can be stored on a phone, cloud, or memory. They can carried anywhere and can be verified instantly. For instance, digital badges on resumes make it easy for individuals to send their qualifications to recruiters for assessment.
Privacy
Individuals can protect their privacy by using verifiable digital credentials. They must always give permission and authorization to share their credentials with another party.
Transparency
Digital credentials provide relevant information about the badge for transparency. A digital badge will include the issuer and the date earned for transparency.
Increased Employability
Digital badges for students increase employability since their skills, certifications, and experience can be verified easily. This makes them attractive to employers and increases their chances of landing a job.
Lifelong Recognition of Skills
Digital credentials facilitate lifelong recognition of skills and qualifications. Since digital credentials can be easily stored and accessed forever, individuals can always prove their skills even after the issuer has closed. Furthermore, it motivates people to keep learning and gaining more skills for professional development.
What Are the Other Types of Digital Recognition?
Digital recognition refers to recognizing an individual’s achievement in the digital space. Digital recognition is done using a digital document rather than the traditional paper documents. Digital recognition is of different types, including digital credentials, certificates, diplomas, and micro-credentials.
Digital Credentials
Digital credentials are electronic documents representing an individual’s achievements, skills, or qualifications. It is an umbrella term covering all digital recognition documents, such as digital badges, certificates, diplomas, and micro-credentials.
Digital Certificates
Digital certificates are electronic files used to verify the authenticity of an online entity such as a device, website, or server.
Regarding education, digital certificates are digital versions of traditional paper certificates or diplomas. Education institutions issue them to recognize completing a degree program or course.
Digital Diploma
Digital diplomas, or electronic diplomas, are digital versions of a traditional paper diploma or certificate. Educational institutions issue digital diplomas as recognition for completing a course.
Micro-Credentials
Micro-credentials are certificates that confirm that a student has completed a short course, webinar, or module that meets specific learning objectives. A micro-credential can be any type of digital recognition document, such as a digital badge, digital certificate, or digital diploma.
Conclusion
Digital badges play a vital role in an evolving world where learning new skills is constantly required. They represent skills, knowledge, and educational qualifications outside and inside traditional schools.
Individuals and organizations are using digital badges in different ways as technology advances. Organizations use digital badges to enhance their brand image, reward employees, or recruit new employees. On the other hand, individuals use digital badges to showcase expertise, motivation to complete an achievement, or increase employability status.
Diplomade provides the best solution on how to get digital badges. You can create, issue, and manage your digital badges with ease. Diplomade leverages blockchain technology to create reputable digital badges that are immutable and transparent.
