As Grantees of the Digital Media and Learning Competition, Peer 2 Peer University has created a platform for anyone who wants to make and issue Badges. We launched badges.p2pu.org at the DML Conference in Chicago last week to an amazing response. Folks were very receptive to our project-based and feedback-driven approach. Here’s a bit of a walkthrough on what that means, and how you can use it.
How it Works.
Everyone is an Expert in something. Maybe you know how to make the perfect costume for your pet. Or you bring objects to life via 3D-drafting and printing. The point is that we’re a curious crew that’s down to learn how to make the next thing–whether it be digital, analog or abstract. Sound about right?
At P2PU, Badges are a way to recognize and support your expertise as you evolve. If you see a Badge on badges.p2pu.org that’s in line with a Project you’re working on, you can submit it for feedback from an Expert.
When you submit your Project, we’ll ask you to step out what you did, and reflect a bit on what you’d do differently. This might seem obvious to you as the creator of your masterpiece, but it’ll help you get more targeted feedback (we promise).
We’ll notify an Expert that your Project is ready. An Expert is someone who either a.) made the darn Badge in the first place, or b.) submitted a Project which demonstrated their wizardry. They’ll come to your Project in short order, and deliver some robust suggestions for your individual needs. You’ll see that the feedback comes as Kudos, Questions and Concerns:
From here you’ll either be awarded the Badge, or prompted to take a look at the feedback and improve your project. You can resubmit your Project as many times as you like–the feedback will travel with the Project, and we’ll try to get the same Expert to continue to help you out.
If and when you do acquire the Badge, it will appear on your badges.p2pu.org profile page, and you’ll be an Expert yourself. Celebration!
Creating a Badge.
If feedback is a conversation, then creating a Badge sparks a whole community around something you love. If you are a P2PU course facilitator, an organizer of a conference, or if a certain subject matter floats your boat, consider making a Badge for it:
From there, you’ll have a chance to preview and publish your Badge. If you just want to save it and come back later, the Badge will appear in your profile under “Badges in the Garden Shed.”
FAQs.
How long will my Badge take to be published and ready for action?
Immediately. You’ll get to preview it before you publish, and then you’ll get a confirmation that the Badge is live.
How do I add a Badge to my P2PU course?
We’re working on a very light Badges/P2PU course integration in the next 4 weeks. In the meantime, each Badge has a unique URL. Create a new content module (i.e. “Submit Project for a Badge”) and copy and paste the Badge URL into that content field. Here’s an example:
I’m not in a P2PU course, but I have an event or a project I’d like to create a badge for. Can I?
Yeah buddy–go for it. You can create a Badge for any kind of Project or event. Just direct folks towards your Badge’s particular URL so they can apply for it.
I’m an Expert and possess the Badge. How will I know when Projects are submitted?
We’ll notify you with a snappy message in your Inbox.
Do your Badges integrate with the Open Badges Infrastructure?
They will by May 1, 2013. Stay tuned for updates.
How Do I Edit My Badge After It’s Published?
Since Badges are live immediately, and anyone can apply for them, we chose to maintain the fidelity of each Badge. So if you applied for Podcast Description and Title and the criteria are “Upload your podcast and give it a name” that Badge should *always* have those criteria for everyone who applies for it. If the criteria or description need to be changed, then it’s a different Badge.
So, in this light, we made two design decisions:
- We supply extensive warning copy in the Badge creation flow, and created the functionality to save your draft and return to it later. The draft Badge will appear in your profile as a “Badge in the Garden Shed.”
- We made the Badge creation process really easy, simple and immediate–so if you want to create a better, spiffier version of the Badge, you can make another one easily.
What’s Coming Down the Pike.
Here’s a little window into the features we are furiously working on here at P2PU. These items are on deck for our next sprint:
- Integration of Badges into P2PU.org courses
- Spiffy landing page gallery sort/search/filter
- Ability to evaluate the usefulness of feedback
- Badge creation gallery of shapes and colors
- Open Badges Infrastructure Integration
Find Out More.
In all seriousness, the skills we need evolve fast and furiously. At P2PU, we believe learning is guided by passion, projects and people. We’ve created a space to connect those arenas and help learners grow. So, Badges represent learning online that you can feel good about. If you’re curious about Badges or P2PU and would like to find out more, here’s some info:
- Check out the Pedagogy Behind Badges.
- Follow our progress on our team Trello Board.
- Join the P2PU Community to find out what crafty experiments we’re up to.
- Contact Vanessa, your humble Mad Learning Scientist.