How SkillSafari is using Open Badges to create more successful careers? Self directed learning (SDL) is a topic that is discussed among learning developers globally. It’s widely believed that when using SDL, learners pick up skills that will help them succeed in life on top of the subject matter. Open Badges are often used as a proof of competence at the end of a learning experience, like a course. SkillSafari uses badges to measure competence without offering study content, turning it into a tool for recognition of prior learning. Experience has shown that when the challenge level of the work required to earn a badge is set to the right level, learners pick interest in studying the contents independently in order to get the badge. This transforms badges to tools for self directed learning.

1. Open Badges as a tool
for Self Directed
Learning
Satu Järvinen, SkillSafari
Open Badge Academy Webinar - 09 October 2018 - Finland

2. SkillSafari
SkillSafari works to create successful
careers through recognition and
validation of skills through our badging
approach. Our trusted and digital
badging solution is based on years of
working with skills development and our
dedication to create pathways to
successful careers.

3. Under the right circumstances,
in the right environment, the
drive to learn kicks in.
Beacon Learning - http://www.beaconlearning.org/guiding-principles/

4. SDL, Guiding Assumptions
Adults are motivated to learn as they experience needs and interests
that learning will satisfy.
Adults' orientation to learning is life‑centered.
Experience is the richest source for adults' learning.
Adults have a deep need to be self‑directing.
Individual differences among people increase with age.
Manning: Self-Directed Learning: A Key Component of Adult Learning Theory,
https://www.bpastudies.org/bpastudies/article/view/38/78#_ftn12

5. SDL is human and modern
1. Individuals who take the initiative in learning, learn more things and
learn better
2. Self‑directed learning is more in tune with our natural processes of
psychological development.
3. Many of the new developments in education ... put a heavy
responsibility on the learners to take a good deal of initiative in
their own learning
Manning: Self-Directed Learning: A Key Component of Adult Learning Theory,
https://www.bpastudies.org/bpastudies/article/view/38/78#_ftn12

6. Open Badges and SDL
An Open Badge System becomes a
slightly gamified path that motivates
learners to set and achieve goals.
At SkillSafari, we see the big power of
badges as a tool for validation of existing
skills rather than a certificate of
completion or participation.

7. Starting point
We start by defining the badges
we want to create that award
learning

8. Phase 2
For the learner, the metabadges
for fulfilling a category, level or
specific competency area turn
earning badges into a game.
In order to proceed in the
knowledge acquisition game,
the badges have to be within
reach.

9. What goes in a badge?
Rather than badges covering large competency areas, we prefer “bite
sized learning” badges.
Badges should feel achievable, since the feeling of “with reasonable
effort I can obtain this badge” is key to motivating learners.

10. Case: Badging Tunisia
● 17 badges
● 7 metabadges
● 50 teachers
● 12 days
OBJECTIVES
● To test the SkillSafari badging approach with teachers
● To learn about how teachers adopt a new approach to
skills validation
● To map existing skills of teachers based on their school
level, location etc to validate the badging approach as a
way to gather data on existing skills in the field
● To learn about the skills and challenges of teachers in
Tunisia for further badge development.

11. User stories
From “Badging Tunisia” where a
gamified badging approach was
used to measure the existing
skills of teachers

13. Thank you!
Please be in touch for more
details or for cooperation!
→
Satu Järvinen
Founder & CEO
SkillSafari
email: satu@skillsafari.io
Mob/WA: +358 41 4597871
Skype: sjarvin