Certified, Badged, and Learned!

     “Fifty-seven respondents [of 70] said badges could be helpful in the hiring process by allowing employers to see a candidate’s competencies, skills set, or other strengths and qualifications” says Randall and West in their study on badges within the hiring process of teachers (2020, p.75). 57 respondents represent over 80% of the respondents indicating the apparent and important reliance on badges when recruiting certified and reliable teachers. This is certainly representative of the increase in digital recognition of testing and certification. At FSU, PIE training, trainings prior to attending as an undergraduate and graduate student, standardized testing, and other various certifications exist to ensure folks continue to maintain their expected certifications to gain access to the education and accreditation. 

It is interesting to see how this reliance on digital certification almost juxtaposes the antiquated trope of, “everyone gets a trophy”, as  people strive for the certifications often and they are awarded pretty frequently. LinkedIn encourages participation in their LinkedIn Learning program and endorsements upon your profile, EdX provides classes and courses built to strengthen your expertise. Learning is constant and moving online, and so too is the dependence on it. Do you feel that digital certificates lose their charm as more folks participate in them or do you find them to be equitable and accessible pathways?

References:

Randall, D. L., & West, R. E. (2020). Who cares about open badges? An examination of principals’ perceptions of the usefulness of teacher open badges in the United States. Open Learning: The Journal of Open, Distance and e-Learning, 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1080/02680513.2020.1752166