Open Badges are information-rich visual records of verifiable achievements earned by recipients. The Open Badges standard describes a method for packaging information about accomplishments, embedding it into portable image files as digital badges, and establishing resources for its validation and verification. In other words, Open Badges contain detailed metadata about achievements such as who earned it, who issued it, the criteria required, and in many cases even the evidence and demonstrations of the relevant skills. The data is all inside!

 

Open Badges 2.0 provides powerful new features such as endorsements, internationalization and multi-lingual capabilities, versioning, improvements for accessibility, and full adoption of JSON-LD. Open Badges 2.0 is in Final status. 

 

Open Badges 2.1 adds a REST-based API to Open Badges 2.0. OB 2.1, often referred to as the Badge Connect™ API, fully inherits the existing OB 2.0 data model. Open Badges 2.1 is now in Candidate Final status and is available for public review, comment and early adoption.

 

IMS Global is responsible for managing and advancing the Open Badges specification—a vital component of the digital credentials ecosystem. Open Badges 2.x is designed for compatibility and interoperability with the other IMS standards related to digital credentials: Comprehensive Learner Record and Competencies and Academic Standards Exchange (CASE)^®.  

Member Resources (login required)

• OB 2.0 Certification Suite
• OB 2.1 Reference Implementations
• Open Badges Technical Project Group 

 

Background

Verifiable digital credentials such as Open Badges are an increasingly important means for educational institutions, employers, and other learning organizations to recognize a learner's skills, competencies, and achievements.

Designed based on learner-agency principles, Open Badges put learners in control of their credentials by enabling them to claim and display the badge on any platform. Open Badges are also portable rather than tied to one specific system (e.g., badging platform, learning management system, social media site). Open Badges contain rich metadata that provides information about the issuing organization, the recipient, and evidence that substantiates the earning of the badge.

Optional extensions to the standard allow Open Badges to include detailed information about assessments and additional information about an issuer’s accreditations relating to the credential. These elements help validate the rigor of the badge to audiences who review the credential, which may include fellow students, instructors, academic advisors, career center staff and others within the institution, as well as potential employers and peer networks. In these ways, badge owners can own, display, store, and share their Open Badges across an open digital credentialing ecosystem.