Explaining Learning Mobility so people might actually understand it — A recent report from UpSkill America examined the obstacles to LER (Learning & Employment Records) adoption and I was gripped by one key finding: “LER leaders consistently overindex on communications about technical details, processes, project progress, and governance structures, rather than clear descriptions of…

An impactful question to actually ask before you answer. — “Is our digital badge credential “credentialy”? Whether or not you expressly ask this question, your design will answer it. The difference will be whether or not your answer is the result of intentional deliberation or a byproduct of de facto implementation. Not all digital badge credentials are created equal. And…

Names are powerful. And the power to choose names comes with responsibility. — From micro-credentials to new certificate programs, we are witnessing expansive growth in formal learning and credentialing opportunities. As they proliferate, we understandably need shared language in order that we may establish shared meaning and understanding. One of the most prevalent terms emerging is Alternative Credentials. This is problematic.

Bigger, blended, and at University of Colorado Boulder — The 2022 Badge Summit is coming to Boulder, Colorado, on August 1–2, 2022! There will also be a virtual-only gathering on August 9 that will feature both live sessions and recordings from the conference the previous week. For our seventh(!) annual Badge Summit, we will combine our enthusiasm for returning…

Striving to elevate the field of Early Childhood Care and Education — I first met Dr. Marilys Galindo in March, 2021, when she emailed that she came across my information while researching individuals involved with badging and micro-credentials. …

Before latching onto the Answer of the future, please ask questions. — 2021 has been a landmark year for crypto. In a period of months, things like NFTs have gone from oddities that few had ever heard of (and only a fraction of those understood at any deeper level), to entering popular culture and vying for Word-of-the-Year recognition. DAOs have grown from…

Sheryl Grant asked, I tried to answer — Open digital badges are now entering their second decade. Wow. To recognize and reflect on the moment, the great Connie Yowell and Sheryl Grant are collaborating on a panel at an upcoming conference. In preparation, Sheryl put out a survey inviting digital badge practitioners to respond. …

The NPR pod has dropped a thousand episodes — Planet Money is a podcast that we can file under Economics Journalism. But it stands out because unlike most reporting on economics that’s directed at and created for industry insiders, this is aimed at the masses. …

Literally mapping learning experiences (on a map) — Can you imagine how cool it would be if you lived in Greenwich Village in the late 1960s and were one of the people hanging out in The Back Room, standing next to Patti Smith and David Bowie, watching Lou Reed and The Velvet Underground rock out? I can. And…