Open badges

Mozilla Open Badges
operator	Mozilla Foundation
On-line	September 15, 2011 (currently active)
http://openbadges.org

Open Badges is a system of digital certificates, or learning badges , jointly developed by the Mozilla Foundation and the MacArthur Foundation .

functionality

Traditionally, participation in training courses, taking examinations or the general existence of certain skills or knowledge are documented with certificates (see e.g. list of IT certificates ) or confirmations of participation. With Open Badges, such confirmations and proofs have a digital character. With these badges, a user should be able to communicate at a central point what he has learned or what abilities and skills he has - regardless of where the badges were acquired. Virtually any organization or individual can exhibit them. Digital badges are increasingly being used in education (schools, universities).

All Open Badges are based on a common standard and can build on each other, regardless of whether they are issued by the same organization or different institutions. In addition, users can collect learning badges with the Open Badges Backpack and show them anywhere on the web. The software used for Open Badges is open source .

Technically, the badges are a PNG image file implemented in which the acquired knowledge, skills, etc. as metadata in optional data blocks called chunks (Engl. For data block is stored).