Digital badge

The student completes the required assessment, module, or experience. The issuing platform generates a badge that meets the Open Badges or similar standard and delivers it to the student’s account. The student can display or share the badge. Employers or other institutions can verify the metadata. If the institution has mapped the badge to credit, the registrar may also post credit; otherwise the badge remains a non-credit credential.

Example: an online student completes a three-module data-visualization series and earns a digital badge. The badge displays the learning outcomes and a link to the student’s project. The badge does not appear on the academic transcript unless the institution has separately awarded credit for the same work.

A certificate is a formal academic award recorded on the transcript. A micro-credential is the broader category of small credentials, of which a digital badge is one technological format. A course grade appears on the transcript and carries credit; a badge may or may not.

Assuming a digital badge automatically grants college credit. Treating an unverified badge image as equivalent to an Open Badges-compliant credential. Expecting every badge to be recognized by employers or other institutions.