Launching Your School Digital Badging Program for Students or Staff

Focus on creating a clear, manageable system before launch.

• Start Small:

  • Launch with just 3–5 foundational badges initially to build momentum, perfect your process, and secure quick buy-in from students and staff.

• Keep the Criteria Clear:

  • Each badge must have a clear, measurable, and achievable goal.

  • Criteria must be based on application of the skill in a practical scenario, not just attendance (e.g., applied the skill rather than attended a workshop).

  • Badges should recognize achievements that traditional grades often miss, focusing on process, soft skills, or advanced application.

• Create a Standardized Look:

  • Use a consistent color scheme or badge shape for different categories (e.g., all Communication badges are blue, all Tech Tool badges are green). This helps users quickly categorize their achievements.

Ensure the effort to earn a badge is matched by meaningful recognition and reward.

• Make it Valuable:

  • Connect badge completion to things staff truly value, such as continuing education credits, shout-outs in meetings, or display boards showcasing teacher progress in the hallways.

• The Recognition:

  • The badge itself is the reward, but public recognition enhances the value.

  • Use Public Recognition channels: school announcements, the school website, or a library display board to publicly congratulate students who earn badges.

• The "Ask Me" Rule:

  • Encourage students and staff to display their earned badges (e.g., on a digital portfolio, locker, or lanyard). This makes them feel like experts and encourages others to ask them how they earned it, reinforcing the skill and building a culture of learning.

Connect high-level mastery to tangible, desirable privileges to motivate advanced effort.

• Special Privileges: Connect high-level badges to small, desirable school privileges:

  • Gold Badge earners get priority seating at events, parking, special treat, etc. 

  • Master Badge earners get the opportunity to train new students and staff on the skill, establishing them as recognized campus leaders.