Digital Badges in Science: A Novel Approach to the Assessment of Student Learning

Digital badging is an innovative method of valid, evidence-based assessment that may be used to assess hands-on skills in undergraduate science laboratories, in research laboratories, and in fieldwork. A digital badge contains information about who was awarded the badge, the criteria used, the evidence submitted, the issuer, the date issued, and often the date of expiry. Because a digital badge requires the submission of evidence (e.g., a video), the inferences made about the competence and abilities of the person holding the badge are grounded in that evidence. We have used digital badging to assess students’ hands-on skills in a nonmajors chemistry laboratory. Our findings indicate that students significantly improve their knowledge, confidence, and experience in properly using common laboratory glassware and equipment. Additionally, after implementing digital badges our department has decreased the cost of replacing broken laboratory equipment. Digital badging may be used by faculty in other science disciplines to improve student laboratory techniques both in the lab and in the field.