The promise and problem of digital badging at Delaware Technical Community College
| Author(s) | Mozeik, Celeste Kirkland | |
| Date Accessioned | 2020-12-10T12:54:21Z | |
| Date Available | 2020-12-10T12:54:21Z | |
| Publication Date | 2020 | |
| SWORD Update | 2020-09-06T16:03:28Z | |
| Abstract | This Educational Leadership Portfolio (ELP) examines the implementation of digital badges in a business capstone course (BUS275) offered statewide at Delaware Technical Community College (DTCC). In an effort to assist business students with more marketable credentials, digital badges showcasing soft skills and professional competencies were implemented and piloted in a business capstone course in summer and fall 2019. The BUS275 course prepares graduating students with help acquiring workplace skills necessary for professional job placement and career success. ☐ Digital badges are electronically shareable micro credentials that can capture and communicate a student’s authentic and diverse learning experiences. These achievements can be communicated to college faculty, potential employers, and prospective transfer institutions through electronic portfolios, as well as social and professional networks such as LinkedIn. A review of the national literature demonstrated that digital badges may help students develop career-ready skills and may communicate what students know and are able to do once they enter the world of work (Carey 2012; Ericson, 2015; Raish & Rimland, 2016, University System of Maryland, 2018). However, there has been much controversial publicity with digital badges in education and little has been done at DTCC to explore and develop these electronic badge competencies. ☐ The purpose of this ELP was to assess DTCC business stakeholder perceptions of the value of career-focused digital badges in response to continuous employer concerns that graduates lack career-ready skills needed for workplace success in the twenty-first century. In addition, the study makes recommendations for DTCC that are consistent with the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) career readiness competencies and other higher education best practices. ☐ A mixed methods research approach was employed and included related artifacts, surveys, and interviews. Analysis of this body of work garnered positive feedback and indicated that the digital badge learning experience is a valuable addition to the business capstone course and should remain in the curriculum as external communication of students’ soft skills. Yet there is a need to build continued institutional capacity for scaling and sustaining digital badge initiatives at DTCC. Recommendations moving forward include using digital badges for professional development at DTCC so that educators can display their accomplishments as a model for students. This will lead to scaling the use of digital badges in other courses. In addition, results warrant exploring the creation of a DTCC brand of co-curricular digital badges to use across all programs. DTCC will need to continue to explore other higher education digital badge best practices and identify where there may be gaps in course material which do not align with local employers’ industry hiring needs. Increased adoption of digital badges to complement traditional credentials will increase students’ marketability and employment opportunities, thus further enhancing the value of digital badges. | en_US |
| Advisor | Hofstetter, Fred T. | |
| Degree | D.Ed. | |
| Department | University of Delaware, School of Education | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.58088/q8dn-k321 | |
| Unique Identifier | 1226402982 | |
| URL | https://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/28229 | |
| Language | en | |
| Publisher | University of Delaware | en_US |
| URI | https://login.udel.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/promise-problem-digital-badging-at-delaware/docview/2454186233/se-2?accountid=10457 | |
| Keywords | Digital badges | |
| Keywords | Competency-based learning | |
| Keywords | Microcredentials | |
| Keywords | Educational Leadership Portfolio | |
| Keywords | Capstone classes | |
| Keywords | Delaware Technical Community College | |
| Keywords | Marketable credentials | |
| Keywords | Workplace skills | |
| Keywords | Professional job placement | |
| Keywords | Micro-credentials | |
| Keywords | Learning experiences | |
| Keywords | National Association of Colleges and Employers | |
| Title | The promise and problem of digital badging at Delaware Technical Community College | en_US |
| Type | Thesis | en_US |