Inspired by Stephanie West-Puckett's Use of Badges at East Carolina University
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Using Digital Badges to Assess Work in First-Year Composition
What Students Think
IRB-Exempt Survey
13/20 Students reported that the badge grading system helped them think about taking the skills they learned in my class to their other classes
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Essay questions revealed that students were transferring course concepts to other classes--suggests a place for further research
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1 Student reported that the badge grading system did not help them think about taking the skills they learned in my class to other classes
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Several students noted remaining confusion about the system and a few misunderstood it, but
When asked how the system affected their willingness to work:
9/20 Students reported that the system motivates them more or as much as traditional grading systems. No one reported that it made them less likely to do the work.
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10/20 Students reported that it made them feel like they had more control over their grades.
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3/20 Students reported some dissatisfaction with the system. Some of these students misunderstood. But at least one student's complaints made me change how I used the system.
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In an Interview
Micah* said "The grading system works well with the assignments."
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When asked whether this system helps them apply course concepts, Micah answered that it makes him think about what he needs to do to get the right grade.
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Micah reported another class in the same semester that used another alternative grading system that he perceived as similar to digital badges--that system uses "creative points."
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When asked about the downsides of the system, Micah mentioned that he was concerned that he didn't know where he stood in the class.
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After the interview, I made a folder on our class Blackboard for all of the class badges so that students could keep track of all they had earned easier.
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*Names have been changed.