Navigating the world of digital badges: A student’s journey
An ARU student’s introduction to digital badges
Naveed, a Psychology student at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), first encountered digital badges through SHoKE (Students at the Heart of Knowledge Exchange), an initiative that offers students the chance to engage in work placements with external organisations. As part of his course, Naveed has participated in various programs within SHoKE, each of which earned him a digital badge upon completion. These badges, such as the team member and team leader badges, represent milestones in his work, helping to showcase his skills in areas like project management, teamwork, and problem-solving.
He is finding digital badges to be an effective way to present his achievements to employers via his LinkedIn profile. With each badge, he can share a concise overview of his newly acquired skills and experiences, making it easier for potential employers to view and understand his capabilities.
Earning Digital Badges
Naveed uses the Navigatr platform to track and share his digital badges. After joining a SHoKE program, he is required to create a Navigatr account, where badges are issued at different stages of the program. For example, after completing the 24-hour program, he earned a badge that reflected his role and contributions. Naveed has found that the badges are not only an acknowledgment of his work but also a formalised way to track his progress and experiences, he said:
“I don’t have to worry about what to say about each of my experiences that has earned me a badge, the platform does this part for me, so all I need to do is log in and share my badge via my LinkedIn profile. Evidencing my experience is made easier by the platform and I think it makes it easier to understand from the employer’s perspective.”
Earning badges provides a clear sense of achievement for Naveed. He enjoys collecting them, as they help him visualise his development over time and simplify the process of documenting his experiences. The badges indicate how many hours he has worked on various projects, offering a structured and transparent record of his accomplishments.
Types of digital badges
Naveed tends to focus more on skill-based badges rather than those related to academic or extracurricular activities. He values the hands-on experience that skill-based badges represent, especially those that align with his career goals in psychology and project management. These badges feel more directly applicable to his future job prospects, offering tangible evidence of his practical abilities.
Sharing digital badges
Naveed primarily shares his digital badges on LinkedIn, either as individual posts or certificates. While he hasn’t expanded to other platforms, he is considering creating a digital CV to further showcase his accomplishments. Although he hasn't yet received feedback from employers, he believes that the badges will be valuable when he graduates, helping him feel prepared for his job search. In the SHoKE community, there are occasional events where participants celebrate their badges, creating an opportunity for students to share their achievements.
Impact and reflection
Earning digital badges has positively impacted Naveed’s personal and academic growth. Although he hasn’t used them in job applications yet, he feels that the badges have helped boost his confidence and sense of accomplishment. Each new badge is a "small win" that contributes to his overall feeling of fulfilment.
From an employer's perspective, Naveed sees digital badges as a helpful way to showcase work experience. He’s heard stories from others who have successfully used badges to demonstrate their skills, and he believes that employers will value this evidence of experience in the future.
Naveed’s take on the future of digital badges
Looking ahead, Naveed sees potential for digital badges to evolve. He hopes for smoother integration with platforms like LinkedIn, with more automated processes to reduce the time and effort required to share badges. He also recognises that while the platform has been useful, there are some challenges, such as issues with updating email settings once students have graduated, to ensure they can continue to access their digital badges. He believes that improving these technical aspects would enhance the overall experience.
As for his future badge interests, Naveed is excited about expanding his skillset. While he has earned several team member badges, he hopes to focus on leadership skills and earn team leader badges in the future. He views this progression as an important step in his professional development.
Overall, digital badges have become a valuable tool in Naveed's academic and career journey, offering a structured way to document his growth while preparing him for future opportunities.
