Investigating Digital Badges Program

Challenge

Digital badges are an alternative way for young people to demonstrate their proficiency in information, communication, and technology (ICT) and other topics. As such, digital badges have the potential to increase interest in and preparation for ICT careers for young people who are not able to access advanced or high-quality ICT courses in the schools they attend.

EDC investigated the impacts of the Design League Badge Portfolio, an ICT digital badging initiative for students in New York City. The initiative, which was led by Mouse, a national nonprofit that provides formal and informal technology programs, and Parsons School of Design, created a digital badge system to provide youth with evidence to demonstrate what they learned in Mouse’s Design League program.

Key Activities

Our researchers completed the following activities:

• Conducted surveys and interviews with youth participants
• Widely disseminated findings through publications and conference presentations
• Led a workshop focused on digital micro-credentials titled “Informal Ed to Higher Ed (iE2HE)” at Carnegie Mellon University

Impact

Our research found that the project had a positive impact on youths’ interest in ICT careers and preparation to apply to college:

• Between pre- and post-surveys, youth reported an increased interest in pursuing ICT careers, with 100% at the post-survey expressing interest in at least one career (88% at the pre-survey) and 53% in three ICT careers (18% at the pre-survey).
• 100% of the participants surveyed planned on applying to college, or had already applied to a college, and believed that the Design League Badge Portfolio would help or did help them in their applications.