Configuring Badgr

Getting ready for Badgr Checklist:

Course Modules have been created and published.
Modules have completion requirements set (and Assignment, Page, Discussion or Quiz dependencies created and published).
Badgr App has been added to the course (see previous page)
You've decided what badges you'd like to award and begun the design process, defining their name, description, criteria text, and image.
Image files are prepared. Square PNGs or SVGs required (or you may use Badgr's built-in Badge Studio feature to create basic badge graphics on the fly).

If you've completed the above, you're all set to configure Badgr to award Open Badges automatically in your course. When you have all your resources in order, getting set up will take only a couple minutes.

Step 1: Define an Issuer Profile

The first task is to define or select an Issuer Profile to use for this course. When you first visit the Badges tab of your course, you'll see a list of the Issuer Profiles you've already defined for your Badgr account. You can select any one of these or define a brand new one now. What you select will appear as the issuer for all the badges you award, so make sure it matches the description of how you would like to present badges.

This could be a profile that represents the teacher of record for the course by name, or their institution or department. You should have the authority to act as a badge issuer on behalf of the profile you define.

Step 2: Select Badges for Modules

Once you select an Issuer, you'll be taken to the Course Objectives screen. This is where you decide which of your modules you would like to award a badge to students for completing. For each module, you may select a badge you've previously defined in Badgr (under the selected issuer profile), or define a new badge on this screen.

Creating a new badge requires you to enter a Name, Description, Criteria text, and an image. It is often easiest to define your whole learning pathway of badges and how you intend for them to work with module objectives at once in a collaborative space with your team before starting this step. Once you have made your important system design decisions and composed your badge definitions, entering the data into Badgr takes a matter of seconds.

For easy collaborative system design discussions, we've produced a template you can use with your team to get set. View Badgr Simple Learning Pathway Worksheet Template on Google Sheets Links to an external site. (Google Login Required)

Create a new badge quickly with the built-in form

Many teachers use an offline graphics editor like Adobe Illustrator or work with a professional graphic designer to create their badge images (400x400 PNG or square SVG), but Badgr features Badge Studio, an easy-to-use badge image creator, featuring a library of built-in badge shapes and icons.

Badge Studio - Quick badge image creation tool built into Badgr

Not every module needs a badge. Just set one for the modules you want to recognize with a badge. If you mess up a badge, it may be deleted from within your account in Badgr before it has been awarded. Go ahead and create a new badge that has the image and text set how you want.

Badgr Configuration Checklist:

Each module you want to award a badge for is Published and has Completion Requirements set.
A badge is defined and assigned for each module where you want to recognize completion.
Students are enrolled in the course, and the course is published.

Now badges will be awarded as students complete modules in your course.

Badgr Objectives Screen with Badges assigned for each Module

Click to the next page to learn more about tracking student progress in courses.