Open digital badges can be shared
on-line and added to resumes.
More importantly, badges clearly
demonstrate that any organisation can
disrupt the current practices of assessment
and recognition, especially by creating new
pathways to validation and recognition of
learning and achievements.
4 – How do you see the connection
between digital tools and education in
the future?
In the future...?
I think that this future already arrived.
It is just that sometimes we are a bit late
to admit that technology is ahead of us
and we need to catch up in order not to
be outdated with our education practices.
Lately I am following the ideas and
practices of Connected Learning.
For me this concept and methodology
captures well the connection between
digital tools and education.
When I reflect our non-formal education
practices I recognise that for years we are
practising passion driven and interest led
learning and we support peer learning
and peer culture. Lately, we started paying
more attention to learning outcomes.
With the help of Youthpass and Open
digital badges now we can better recognise
learning outcomes and relate them to other
sectors: formal education and employment.
Maybe what we still need to improve,
is the better use of technologies in our
educational programmes.
As youth workers and trainers we have
some doubts, skepticism, fears and lack
of skills, especially related to the latest
technology. But young people and our
learners are already using these technologies.
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I would wish that in the near future,
we would be more curious learners to
explore new digital tools, have more
courage to try them in our educational
practices and appreciate their benefits
for work and learning.
5 – Are the Open Badges the future of
certification of competences?
Many involved in the world-wide community
around Open Badges has good practice cases
where badges are already now making a
difference in the way organisations and
learners can validate and recognise
learning and achievements.
People, organisations, institutions and
even companies dedicate their time and
financial resources to develop Open
Badges infrastructure and eco-system.
We use badges to motivate and recognise
learning that happens in youth mobility
projects.