On Navigatr, a badge is a digital credential issued by an organisation to recognise a skill, an achievement, or a learning experience. Each one is a verifiable Open Badge, so it carries proof of who issued it, what it was for, and who earned it. For the wider picture of what digital badges are and why they matter, see What Are Digital Badges?.
What is in a badge
Every badge carries a few key things:
A name and image that represent the achievement.
The criteria: what someone did to earn it.
The skills it represents, so others can see what it stands for.
The organisation that issued it.
Navigatr badges also follow a shared framework that groups them into types and levels. For how that works, see Navigatr Badge Framework.
How you earn a badge
There are a few ways to earn a badge, depending on how the issuing organisation has set it up. You might attend an activity, follow an earn link on the badge, complete a pathway, or be issued the badge directly by a provider.
This is also how badges connect to the rest of Navigatr: activities award a badge for taking part, and pathways are journeys built from badges, sometimes with a completion badge at the end. For all the ways to earn one and what to do in each case, see Earning a Badge.
Note: An expired badge is no longer being issued, so it can no longer be earned. Anyone who earned it before it expired keeps it, including its certificate.
Where your badges live
Every badge you earn appears on your profile under the Badges tab. From there you can click on each badge to view its details, share it, and download a certificate, and anyone can check its public verification page to confirm it is genuine.
Because each badge is an Open Badge, it is yours to keep and take with you. You can download it or move it to another badge platform. See Sharing Your Achievements and Open Badges Explained.
Tip: Got a question about a badge you have earned or been sent? Email [email protected].