What Are Digital Badges?

A digital badge is a form of micro-credential in an online visual format that recognizes certain accomplishments, skills, or interests that the individual has completed through learning experiences. This competency or skills-based recognition allows a learner to demonstrate mastery and learning in a particular area that is less than a full degree or certificate. While it is not uncommon to hear the terms “micro-credentials” and “badges” used interchangeably, “badges” refer to the artifact issued to the student upon successful completion of a micro-credential program.

By obtaining a digital badge, the earner can gain relevant skills to display and utilize in today’s workforce. They take less time to earn than a degree and can be shared on a variety of platforms to show you completed certain requirements to articulate a skill that can be difficult to show on a traditional academic transcript. Digital badges also provide a way for students to validate and share their experiences with possible employers or graduate programs that can impact future opportunities.

Each badge contains metadata that illustrates the requirements needed to attain the badge and is verifiable. When the badge earner or another individual clicks on the digital badge image, you can see when it was issued, the skills covered, and the earning criteria. This transparency is what ensures the badge credibility and clearly articulates examples of the skill development.

The digital badges offered by Elon University, shown in the table below, are non-credit bearing learning opportunities and can be shared through a variety of platforms such as LinkedIn, your resume, embedded in a website or email signature, Twitter, Facebook, and more.

Badge Offerings

Digital Badge

Requisites

Skills Earned

Facilitated By
Advanced Data Competency

 Enrollment in or completion of 3 Data Intensive designated courses from at least 2 disciplines Career Development; Communication Skills; Critical Thinking; Data Analysis; Data Competency; Self Development; Technology Crista Arangala
Bridging Faith and Health

 Active student in a program within the School of Health Sciences Equity And Inclusion; Ethical Conduct;
Healthcare Industry;
Holistic Healthcare;
Multicultural Awareness;
Professionalism;
Religious Education		 Brian Pennington
College2Career Pathways 

 Enrollment in or completion of CAE course required to earn badge Career Development; Interviewing Skills; Professionalism; Resume; Self Development Kim Giles
Data Visualization Software

 Register for the LSB data camp: Tableau 101 Data Cleaning; Data Visualization; Tableau Haya Ajjan; Ani Vuolo
Ethnographic Research

 Apply for and be accepted through the PERCS Application Critical Thinking; Diversity and Inclusion; Ethnography; Field Research; Interviewing Skills; Professionalism; Qualitative Data Analysis; Qualitative Research Devin Proctor
Health and Wellness Coach

 N/A Behavior Change; Client-Centered Coaching; Empowerment;
Holistic Health;
Motivational Interviewing;
Self Awareness;
Wellness Management		 Lynda Butler-Storsved
Health Professions Education Primer

 Active and good-standing student in the M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies Program Bedside Manner; Career Development; Clinical Practices; Debriefing; Inclusion; Leadership; Observational Feedback; Self Development Kim Stokes
Innovation in Entrepreneurship

 Member of Oak Originals; 2.5 GPA Small Business Development; Customer Service; Marketing; Pitching; Self Development; Time Management; Business Forecasting; Social Media Content Management; Website Management Alyssa Martina
Introduction to Statistical Programming
 Be enrolled in STS*2120 at Elon University or have transferred in equivalent course level Data Visualization; Descriptive Analytics; SAS; Statistical Analysis; Statistical Programming; Statistical Tests Laura Taylor; Crista Arangala
Elon Kickbox
 Apply for and be accepted into the Elon Kickbox program Budget Management; Critical Thinking; Digital Fabrication; Entrepreneurship; Iterative Design; Professional Communication; Project Management; Prototyping; Self Development; Technology Dan Reis
Laboratory Safety Training

 Successfully completed General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II at Elon University or have transferred in equivalent course level Biological Safety; Chemical Safety; Identify Laboratory Hazards; Professionalism; Risk Analysis; Safety Training Melinda Box
Maker Level I

 N/A Critical Thinking; Data Analysis; Digital Fabrication; Prototyping; Technology Sean McMahon; Dan Reis
PBNC Children’s Vision Screening Training & Certification Program

 Successfully completed NRS*3200 at Elon University Vision Screening; Career Development; Nursing Care; Professionalism; Visual Acuity Stacey Thomas
Programming in R

 Register for the three-part R workshop series at Data Nexus. Data Analysis; R (Programming Language); RStudio; Tidyverse; Technology Crista Arangala
Responsible Technologies

 Join a Reading Group and apply Artificial Intelligence (AI); Critical Thinking; Ethical Responsibility; Innovative Thinking; Technological Innovation Crista Arangala
Robotic Process Automation

 Register for the LSB data camp: Robotic Process Automation Data Architecture; Data Processing; Debugging; Robotic Process Automation; UiPath Kevin Agnew; Ani Vuolo
Web Analytics

 Register for the LSB Data Camp: Learn Web-Based Analytics Analytical Modeling; Data Analysis; Data Collection; Data Literacy; Preprocessing; Web Analytics; Web Development Manoj Chari; Long Xia

Frequently Asked Questions

Faculty Resources

Every full-time permanent faculty or staff member at Elon University has the opportunity to oversee a digital badge program. If you would like to propose a new digital badge not offered in the table above, please submit a micro-credential proposal form at this link:

The Micro-Credential Proposal Form will be evaluated for clarity of distinction, direction, delivery structure and evaluation, as well as value of competency or skill. The committee will be reviewing proposals to determine if the content and contexts are accessible and logical to earners and if the award criteria and evaluation tools provide evidence of competency demonstration. Proposals will also be assessed for specificity of content, alignment with best practices and standards, and connection to student’s career and learning goals.

When submitting the form, please include any evaluation instruments, list of materials, and syllabi that are visible to students.  If applicable, please include as attachments any evidence that the skills or competency are valued in the current or future workforce and or encouraged as part of published educational standards of practice (NACE competencies, NCEES, FINRA).

Elon-branded badges should be embedded with institutional practices of reflective experience and/or experiential learning attributes. Please contact Dr. Jennifer Platania at jplatania@elon.edu if you have questions about a digital badge proposal or the process of approval.