Badges: Perspective from the teacher and student
Class badges is an online tool where teachers can award children with badges for a variety of reasons, whether it be good attendance, effort, achievement etc. Class badges can be customised by the class teacher so it meets the needs for the students within the classroom. Badges can be personalised for the group of children you have, for example:
(https://uk.pinterest.com/InnovativeTech/badges-for-students-staff/?lp=true)
Badges is very similar to the reward system such as class dojo. However, the difference is that class dojo is fairly generic, the teacher is not able to personalise the rewards given.
For the teacher this is advantageous as the badges awarded can be personalised to meet the academic goals of the school, additionally, it can be altered to the needs of specific students. For example if a particular behaviour policy is in place for children with behavioural issues, badges can be used by teachers as a means of positive reinforcement as children can aspire towards achieving and earning the goals and badges needed.
How does it benefit the student?
Badges benefits the children as it keeps children motivated to track their progress online. Unlike other award systems, class badges encourages children to think outside the box. With such a wide choice of badges to earn and the choice of teachers being able to personalise them, the children are more likely to use their imagination and become enthusiastic learners by aspiring towards achieving a wide range of badges.
Do you think the badge system will become useful in the real world or should it simply be used as a motivator in the classroom?
The badge system has the potential to do become relevant in the real world. For example, children can collect and have an online portfolio of all the badges they have collected over time and can be used when they move onto having interviews at secondary schools. Instead of taking a folder of certificates, their evidence of achievement can be shown online. Of course, in order for this to progress, it would have to be practised on a national level so it would be recognised. However, the possibility of this being actively practised is fairly minimal unless there is a government push towards it.