Extended Learning has teamed up with CanCred, a Canadian-based service that supports the distribution, management, storing and sharing of digital credentials. Badges outline the skills achieved and make it easy for the learner to share them. These digital badges are earned for successfully participating and/or completing specific Learning Opportunities such as micro-credentials and professional workshops.
Learners can share skills and achievements that may be challenging to convey on a resume or academic transcript and highlight the evidence of learning accomplished for employers and organizations. Badges can be shared on social networks (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter), digital portfolios/resumes and learners can also take advantage of their free access to eCampus Ontario’s Digital Badge Passport.
Types of Badges
Completion Based Certificate/Badge
These digital credentials are issued to learners who participate in professional learning opportunities that involve upskilling, reskilling and/or enhances their professional skills. These offerings are delivered by professionals in various fields and can involve assessment or completion of requested tasks.
Participation Based Certificate/Badge
These digital credentials are issued to learners who participate in learning opportunities that do not require professional involvement or assessment. Often these learning opportunities are shorter in duration and do not include assessment.
What is Stacking?
As our library continues to expand offerings will naturally start to fit into various categories (e.g., education, health services, business, etc.) and in some cases offerings will be grouped together from the launch date. When multiple micro-credentials fall into the same category it provides an opportunity for the learner to stack their micro-credential badges to earn a Macro-Badge.
A macro-badge holds higher prestige in completion because it outlines that the learner had to complete multiple micro-credentials to achieve it. For example, we will be offering three individual micro-credentials on GPS, compass, and mapping navigation. A learner could choose to take one, two or all three micro-credentials and earn individual badges; however, if they chose to complete all three, they would be awarded with a macro-badge for “Survival Navigation” which outlines their extended efforts in completing all three.
When a micro-credential qualifies for a macro-badge, Extended Learning will include the details of that opportunity on the description pages.
What is an Endorsement?
Some learning opportunities may be professionally recognized by individuals, other educational institutions, businesses, and organizations. When a learning opportunity is supported in this way, the information on a digital badge will include a brief write-up from the endorser to validate their public declaration of support toward the offering.
Extended Learning Nipissing University has proudly been endorsed several eCampus Ontario Extend offerings and encourages professionals to contact us if they are interested in endorsement – extendedlearning@nipissingu.ca.