Transforming Workplace Learning Culture with Digital Badges

Abstract

Today’s businesses are moving faster than ever in response to constant changes in the world around them. There is increasing acceptance that in order for employees to keep up with constant change and for businesses to stay relevant, learning and development has to move to the heart of the business. Organizations must go through a learning transformation to realize this vision. We need to build a learning culture in the workplace, and this chapter explores how badging programs can help organizations achieve this learning culture.

Existing workplace learning programs combine elements of informal learning, formal training, knowledge sharing and collaboration, social learning, coaching and mentoring, serious games and more. Effective next-generation workplace learning must combine these elements in engaging learning architectures. However, this means breaking out of the traditional learning management system which is still in widespread use. Badging systems can provide the glue that holds these new learning architectures together and can help make the learning process efficient, engaging and effective.

The author draws on 20 years experience working on over 100 learning technology projects for large organizations. As well as putting the case for why badging systems are the ideal vehicle for moving learning to the heart of the business, the chapter looks at how to implement a badging system in the workplace and how to make a success of your badging system through effective rollout strategy and change management, using case studies of digital badges in the workplace.