Please read Dr. DeMarco’s article in the Journal of Clinical and Translational Science titled, “Digital badges in academia: An educational tool for the clinical research coordinator.“
A digital badge is a visual representation of a validated learned skill or competency. A digital badge focuses on one distinct topic as opposed to an academic course which may cover several topics and skills addressed over a semester. The competency-based component of a digital badge allows for opportunities to earn multiple badges that can be taken to increase a competency level sequentially to form a micro-credential.
Traditionally a mainstay of scouting and the military, the modern form of badging can be presented in a digital format in email signature lines and LinkedIn profiles. The concept of digital badging has recently become of greater interest among institutions of higher education. Badging has the potential to be an effective tool for recruitment into academia by serving as a stepping-stone to more comprehensive educational programs offered by the institution backing the badge. For this reason, academia has been increasingly offering digital badges alongside more traditional certificates and degrees. For learners, this trend of digital badges in academia can open the doors to a more focused learning platform since users can earn a university-backed credential without the traditional time commitment, financial investment, or time-related challenges. To read the full article.
Digital badges in academia: An educational tool for the clinical research coordinator. DeMarco B, Ebanks Y, Tafuto B. J Clin Transl Sci. 2024 Feb 28;8(1):e51. PMID: 38544747 PMCID: PMC10966829 DOI: 1017/cts.2024.490