Welcome to the BadgeLaureate *

Richard VahrmanLocoMatrix

(* means there are notes)

Welcome to what?

• A BadgeLaureate is a record of a person’s collection of badges - called BadgeLs *

• A BadgeL is awarded for completing a BaBit • A Babit = module of study typically lasting 5 days• 4 days of the Babit are spent in research/study

and a 1 day “creation” based on that study *• Babits are peer-reviewed. You either pass or are

deferred until you meet criteria• If deferred, you can be mentored until you pass

When do you pass the BadgeLaureate?

• Never!• What?• That’s right. The BadgeLaureate is an on-going

record of your achievements and you can do as few or as many as you like over the course of a lifetime

• Do BaBits as and when you feel like it• Follow lines of BaBits based on interests or

recommendations (or LPS?)*

Who can write a BaBit?

• Anyone!• Won’t that tend to make them low quality?• No: they will rise or fall in value according to how

many people use them and how they are rated• But there will be provision for BaBits to be added

to/improved upon• This is done via addition to course materials *• There will be a life cycle and ultimately a BaBit

will die as others become more popular

How much do BaBits cost?

• It’s possible that people will charge for them• But it is imagined that the most popular will

be free and crowd-created, or adapted and improved

Give me an example

• First idea for a BaBit – “Codes for Kids”• Will include:– Introduction with Scratch– HTML– Raspberry Pi basics– Programming with the Pi with Python

• Creative part will be students own program

More examples

• The history of badges (self-referential!)• Where I am – my town in space and time• GPS – creating a location-based-game *

Also for

• BaBits can also be awarded for other activities or have an equivalence

• Examples such as achievements in a sport or music (c.f. Martial arts belts or music grade)

Extra BadgeLs

• For “merit”• For mentoring• Volunteering (cf Duke of Edinburgh award)• For 1000 hits on YouTube

When will it be available?

• Planning to test a few BaBits during the Brighton Digital Festival (Sept 2013)

• This will be as part of a week’s school testing proposal for a free school *

• Part of a bid for IC Tomorrow competition

Why do a BadgeLaureate?

• Part of Education 3.0 thinking *• Fits in with 5 principles for better learning– Education for life– Personalised Learning– Creative– Mentored– Fun

• Also with 5 stages of learning (next slide)

5 stages of learning *

• Boot-strappers - all you need for self-managed learners

• Cubs – learning is play/learning is fun• Explorers – learning by finding out• Makers – learning by making (big projects)• Apprentices – learning by working

Similarity to Baccalaureate

1. They sound similar2. Er… that’s it

Differences

• EBacc (English Baccalaureate) made up of modules called GCSEs and A levels

• Module are studied for up to 2 years at the end of which you have to reproduce things you have learnt in an exam

• If you fail an exam, you have to resit at a later stage (6 months)– or maybe you just fail

• The main difference is that the EBacc has been cancelled* – the Badgelaureate is just about to take off

Will it happen?

• Not proposing it as an alternative to school• Yet• Could be part of our free school programme• Could be interesting for home learners• It’s happening in other ways already– Khan Academy– MOOCs

• This will standardise, formalise and put it into handy, bite-size chunks