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Dallas College

Digital Badging at Dallas College

Dallas College students can showcase their skills, abilities and accomplishments through our Digital Badging program.

What are Digital Badges?

Digital Badges are “containers” or outward representations of specific skills or competencies. Reinforce your claim to a skill, or a collection of skills and competencies. Digital Badging at Dallas College provides you with microcredentials necessary for your future career without having to wait for a degree award.

Attending college is not just about completing a course for a grade, it's also about acquiring specific skills in courses and extracurricular activities at each step of your educational journey.

The Dallas College Digital Badging Program seeks to provide students with micro-credentials necessary for their future careers without having to wait for a degree award. You may be wondering, what is a digital badge?

Digital badges are containers or outward representations of specific skills or competencies. They contain information about the award, like tasks completed, assessment criteria, and who issued the badge. Where a transcript shows the completion of a course, digital badges can represent a particular skill such as problem solving or research, or a series of skills in a competency badge like critical thinking or teamwork that are acquired in courses.

Badges can also be awarded for the skills demonstrated in Dallas College co- and extracurricular activities through special academic or student life programs like Phi Theta Kappa, service learning, and more. Or show your career readiness to prospective employers with a Career Explorer badge, which can also earn you a cord to wear a graduation.

These digital badges can be shared on social media sites like LinkedIn or added to resumes and e-portfolios so that learners can easily share their accomplishments. For more information, contact Badges at dallascollege.edu or talk to your program sponsor about earning these badges.

Why should Dallas College students acquire Digital Badges?

 

Mastering Marketable Skills

You will practice and master a variety of marketable skills throughout your time at Dallas College. Digital Badges highlight the skills you practice while you master course content.

Learn more about the Dallas College Marketable Skills initiative, a student-centric approach to employability and living-wage opportunities in Dallas County.

 

Beyond Grades and Degrees

Digital Badges fill in the gaps between grades and degrees. A transcript shows the courses you have completed, while Digital Badges represent the skills you demonstrated in those courses.

 

Showcase Skills Early

Digital Badges are awarded during your academic journey. Showcase your acquired skills while you complete your program of study, without having to wait for a degree award.

 

Share Achievements on Social Media

Digital Badges can be shared on LinkedIn or other social media sites, added to resumes or personal e-portfolios.

 

Keep Your Achievements After Graduation

You “own” your digital badges, even after you leave Dallas College. These open badges include verified metadata, making them trustworthy and easy to share across platforms like LinkedIn, resumes, and e-portfolios to showcase your skills and achievements.

Types of Badges for students

You will be eligible to receive Digital Badges in two (2) primary areas:

  • Badges issued by Dallas College for skills acquired in courses
  • Badges issued by Dallas College for select co- and extracurricular programs

You develop important marketable skills while completing coursework at Dallas College. You can apply for individual skills badges found in the Dallas College Marketable Skills inventory. Upon successful completion of all skills badges in each Core Competency, you will automatically be awarded the competency badge.

You are eligible to apply for an individual skill badge by providing evidence of successful completion of two assignments in two different courses that show demonstration of the skill and successful completion (C or better) of both the assignments and the courses. When submitting evidence of completion, you will provide a reflection for each assignment, including:

  • A description of the assignment
  • An explanation of how the assignment allowed you to demonstrate the skill, and
  • A self-evaluation of your attainment of the skill (e.g., what can you do with this skill?)

Develop important skills and abilities as you participate in co- and extracurricular programs at Dallas College. Earn badges showing your levels of commitment, effort and skills development in the following programs:

Special Academic Programs badge eligibility is determined by program sponsors. See your program sponsor to learn about badge criteria. The first programs to be badged include:

  • Honors Program
  • Service Learning
  • Phi Theta Kappa

You can mark your career readiness journey at Dallas College by completing the Digital Badges in the Career Explorer pathway. Visit your campus Career Services office for more information on how to get started!

Joining a Student Life program allows you to demonstrate important skills while engaging in the college community. Current Student Life badges include:

  • Connections and Empowerment Diplomat
  • Cultural Emissary
  • Student Leadership and Service

After a badge is awarded, you will be notified and allowed to access your free account in Canvas Credentials. Digital Badges can be shared through personal accounts from your Canvas Credentials Backpack. Share to LinkedIn or other social media sites, add to your resume and personal e-portfolios. You can also curate collections of badges in your Backpack.

Receiving Badges

Dallas College badges will be issued as open badges, offering a flexible and portable way for students to showcase their achievements. These badges contain verified metadata, ensuring their trustworthiness.

Key Details

  • Portable and flexible: Students can easily share badges across platforms like LinkedIn, resumes, and e-portfolios.
  • Verified metadata: Includes criteria, description, and skills represented by the badge.
  • Student-owned: Individuals retain control when sharing their badges.
  • Authenticated details: Metadata includes work completed, issuer, issue date, and electronic signature.
  • Transparent and secure: Badges help students communicate their skills to employers and professional networks.

Contact Us

If you have questions or would like more information about Digital Badges at Dallas College, email us at Badges@DallasCollege.edu and we'll be happy to help!