Let’s just say the image combining a punched card and magnetic tape has not aged well. In my defense, while I’ve seen punched cards (Wikipedia is your friend, for those with no idea), I fortunately never had to use them. However, I certainly did store early BASIC programs on a cassette tape (and no, I’m not going to explain BASIC or cassette tapes!)
Achievements Based on Evidence
I remember poring over the Scout Handbook, looking at different merit badges and exploring what I would tackle next. Each badge had specific requirements to demonstrate the associated skills or knowledge, which had to be certified by an authority based on evidence that proved my ability in that area.
The badges were somewhat stackable, or at least milestones and prerequisites for advancing rank: you had to follow pathways with certain core badges, as well as a minimum number of optional badges. Any record of what I actually did or learned for these badges is lost in the sands of time (or an as-yet unexplored corner of my parents’ basement!) - all that remains is the badge. And in some cases it’s not clear even to me what the badge represents: I’m pretty sure I never learned how to play the harp, yet there that badge sits!
The Modern Merit Badge - Digital Badges and Micro-Credentials
Fast forward 35 years (you can probably guess where I’m headed), and the more things change, the more they stay the same. More than 43 million digital badges have been issued through 2020, according to an IMS-Credential Engine survey. There are specific requirements to earn each credential badge, and many of them represent certain skills or knowledge, certified by an authority. Some things have improved: digital badges are verifiable, can be tied to blockchain, can have clear expiration dates, and other advances. Platforms such as Badgr support stackable badges and learning pathways.
But for many digital badges, it’s not clear to the viewer (or even recipient) what the underlying skills, knowledge or expertise are that the badge or micro-credential represents. Most digital badges don’t present personalised, meaningful evidence tied to each individual.
