What kind of badges do we want to issue?

We have already stated that Open Badges can be issued for many different situations. Below a list of scenarios:

Certification of traditional credentials – school diplomas, three-year or master’s degrees, research doctorates, etc

Certification of attendance to informal training i.e. events, meetings, on-the-job training, etc.

Confirmation of belonging to groups – i.e. Sports Clubs,  recreational clubs, political groups, etc.

Professional certifications – such as those obtained from International Organizations like ITIL, ISO, IEEE, or from Software or Devices’ Vendors. Usually such kind of badges requires passing an exam that establishes the acquired abilities.

Certification of attendance to formal tra\ining programs – i.e. technical classes and management courses, either stand alone or as part of a structured ongoing training program. This ongoing training is usually paired with tests and exams in order to confirm the acquired skills and abilities.

For example, credits awarded in schools, universities, CME credits (Continuing Education in Medicine), etc.

Certifications to describe skills or abilities or roles within the organization (Team Skill, Leadership Skill, Problem Solving, etc.)

To better manage the different situations in which badges can be issued, MY OPEN BADGE has worked out a simple taxonomy which allows to differentiate (through the Custom Data allowed by the standard) the context in which a badge has been issued.