Digital badges as a gamification tool

In recent years, gamification has become a growing trend in the educational field. It is about the application of game elements and mechanics in non-gaming contexts, with the aim of improving motivation, commitment and learning. In this article, we show you the digital badges as a gamification tool for your training processes.

One of the most used tools in gamification are digital badges. These are symbols or images, supported by detailed metadata, that represent an achievement or competency achieved by a person. They can be granted by different entities, such as educational institutions, companies or social organizations.

What is gamification?

Gamification is the use of game elements and mechanics in non-gaming contexts. These elements can include points, badges, levels, leaderboards, etc. Gamification is used to increase motivation, engagement and learning.

Digital badges as a gamification tool can have different purposes. They can be used for:

• Recognize the achievements of students or collaborators. Badges can be a way to motivate people to continue learning and trying hard. When students or employees see that their achievements are recognized, they feel more motivated to continue learning and dropout rates decrease.
• Accredit progress. Badges can be used to accredit learning. This can be useful for students or collaborators seeking to obtain official recognition for their skills or competencies.
• Leave a digital footprint. Badges can be easily shared on professional networks. By doing so, those accredited will begin to build a complete online professional profile that will generate better job opportunities.

Examples in the educational context:

• Class Participation Badge: This badge is awarded to students who actively participate in class, ask questions, or share their ideas.
• Badge for presenting the most outstanding project: This badge is awarded to students who submit the best work on a given project.
• Teamwork badge: This badge is awarded to groups of students who work together to complete a task or project.
• Course Completion Badge: This badge is awarded to students who successfully complete a course.
• Skill Mastery Badge: This badge is awarded to students who demonstrate mastery of a specific skill.

Examples in the corporate context:

• Employee of the Month Badge: This badge is awarded to the employee who demonstrates outstanding performance in their job.
• Innovation Badge: This badge is awarded to the employee who proposes an innovative idea that benefits the company.
• Collaboration Badge: This badge is awarded to an employee who collaborates effectively with others to achieve a common goal.
• Learning Badge: This badge is awarded to the employee who completes a professional development course or program.
• Customer Service Badge: This badge is awarded to the employee who provides exceptional customer service.

Badges can be planned as a learning experience such as microcredentials so that they follow a training route that ends up being like a map of a game for the students. If they see it as a game, they will enjoy it more and they will push themselves to obtain recognition.

These are just a few examples, and the possibilities are endless. Educators can be creative and innovative in designing digital badges that are relevant to their students and support their learning goals.

Subscribe to blog here and receive all our content