The Use of Badges in the Classroom

This post will discuss the use of badges in the classroom from the perspectives of both teachers and pupil. Firstly, what is a badge and how can it be used in the classroom?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgLLq7ybDtc

Benefits of badges to pupils:

• Badges allow pupils to customise their learning by choosing a badge they would like to work on, thus motivating, challenging and encouraging pupils to work towards their chosen badge.
• Celebrates pupil’s achievements when they have met a target or reached their goal. This is important as it allows pupils to feel a sense of achievement.
• Allows pupils to compete with each other to earn different badges. This competition is good for pupils as it motivates them, thus encouraging learning.
• Reinforces positive reinforcement in the classroom (Skinner, 1938).

Benefits of badges to teachers:

• It can be used to monitor pupil’s progress by checking to see if pupil’s have met their chosen badge.
• Allows the teacher to provide pupils with badges depending on their aims and targets.
• Allows the teacher to set class goals and targets which are visible to all pupils.

Mozilla badges

Mozilla badge is a new form of assessment and rewards that allow students to take courses and earn badges that they can store in their electronic backpack. These give children a sense of reward in a sense of behaviourist teaching if you get answers correct. However, while this is effective in that it gives children the motivation to learn and encourages them, the software itself is complicated to use. There are over 200 million combinations to choose from.

Overall, I strongly believe badges are an effective method to encourage and motivate pupils in schools and I would definitely use it with my pupils. Furthermore, I can see the importance of badges in the home and school environment as it gives children confidence and self esteem in a range of areas. However, although there is huge potential with them, I can only really see a few classes using them.