4-H Digital Badging Support Auburn University, Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES)

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1 4-H Digital Badging Support Auburn University, Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES) A. Introduction, Background, and Content Alignment This proposal is aligned with the Stage One 4-H National Headquarters/USDA Digital Badge Collaborator Proposal for the purpose of describing how the Auburn University based group will address the badging system and technology design for 4-H badges. As described in the Stage One Proposal, 4-H has provided positive youth development experiences for millions of young people. As the flagship youth development program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and our nation s Cooperative Extension System, 4-H annually engages approximately 6 million youth and 500K volunteers in a variety of nonformal education experiences. The infrastructure of 109 land grant universities (LGUs) in every state and territory and staffing in almost all of the 3,150 counties across America, provides a unique system of engaging the public youth audience in learning. Over 80 countries conduct youth programs based on the 4-H model. Such an infrastructure allows 4- H to directly engage youth in community based settings and on-line environments. The Auburn University (AU) based group is committed to advancing high quality learning experiences in the broad areas of science, health and citizenship through the use of experiential learning models and, especially, online learning. Accordingly, the AU based group began to develop a means of supporting online learning that provides interfaces with a knowledge bank of land grant university based content (extension), high interest area online learning community sites, and a secure online social learning network the For Youth, For Life Learning Network (FYFLnet). As a part of this learning network, designed primarily for 4-H, the AU team also recognized a need for a digital portfolio for learners to record their experiences and accomplishments. A digital credential is a technology that would work as an integral part of the learning network. See Appendix A. B. Badges Content: The 4-H collaborative effort will focus on robotics as its central domain with a basic design to be used in a series or various levels and areas of related content. As stated in the Stage One 4-H proposal, the base of the 4-H program will be associated with multiple curricula on robotics designed for use by 4-H and consist of considerable offline learning. Skills Discrete vs. dynamic: Skills that will be validated include important workplace and life skills like teamwork, problem solving and leadership. Other skills include computer programming, building robots, recording and analyzing data, using a GPS device, and creating GIS maps. Competencies include the engineering design process, systems engineering, robot sensors, and robot mobility, technology integration and computer programming. Youth may also earn digital badges for presentations, competitions, and career exploration accomplishments. Badges used in 4-H may be a one-time occurrence for an individual or may be included in a series of badges earned over time. 4-H badges may be discrete in nature and be explicit in what is required to earn the one badge but will also be relevant to a continuation in the topic at hand leading to additional badges. 4-H badges will likely be collected in an e- portfolio but also be compatible with the Mozilla Open Badges system. Scarcity & Granularity, Qualifications: Criteria, specificity, various components and categories, and other pertinent design considerations will be related to the 4-H curriculum on robotics. The overall 4-H Robotics team will determine a number of details in this area and anticipates multiple badges and sets of criteria with various levels of accomplishment.

2 Role & Identity, Levels: With multiple robotics badges in the 4-H system, some will likely indicate skill sets that would be conducive to taking on specific roles related to robotics. Such roles may include design, engineering, programming, presentation, or other areas. Opportunities & Privileges: There is flexibility in the design and development of badging for robotics in 4-H which allows for attaching opportunities and privileges as they are earned. There is also interest in associating 4-H badges with university academic credit. Badges will be a part of a member s record of achievements (e-portfolio). Performance/Assessment: Criteria for 4-H robotics badges will be determined by the total team and will relevant to the associated curriculum for robotics in 4-H. Mechanisms for assessment will be determined by the overall team as well. Permanence: Badges will have permanent value in the 4-H community especially at lower criteria levels. Badges related to academic pursuit or certification in certain skill sets may require an opportunity for updating. Portability: 4-H badges will be recognized beyond 4-H in that they will serve as a record of accomplishment in personal e-portfolios. Validation will be related to the requirements for earning badges which will be captured in the meta data. 4-H may also collaborate with partner organizations to jointly offer badges that would be appropriate in multiple settings. Design: 4-H badges developed for national use will include an official 4-H clover image but may also include indicators of its source, sources, or initiators. Sources would include the USDA as the home of National 4-H Headquarters but may also include major sponsors or institutions related to its development. Graphically, it will include an image representative of the content involved. Also, while a small image cannot be representative of all entities related to the badge such representation can be captured in meta data. A draft image is provided in Appendix B as a placeholder prior to a final design for universal use. Transparency/Meaning: Badging in the 4-H community will require some orientation but it is not so different from traditional means of recognition of accomplishments in 4-H. 4-H has traditionally utilized ribbons, medals, certificates, record book entries, etc. so there is a general understanding of acknowledgements of accomplishment inherent to 4-H already. Use of a digital badge may prove to be very popular especially if the badge is linked to a personal record that shows what was done to obtain it. As a LGU program, 4-H is a widely recognizable and credible brand. As such, 4-H badges will carry considerable value with educational institutions and employers. Protection: 4-H is a program that is associated with universities and a badging system will be designed to assure that institutional credibility is clear to maintain value and integrity. Issuance of a 4-H badge will be dependent upon verified completion of learning criteria. Endorsement: An endorsement, approval, or acceptance by a government agency such as USDA, NASA (and partners), and others would provide greater credibility to badges. Further, criteria for earning badges would likely be developed by a partner institution such as a land grant university which would then be approved by partner agencies. The 4-H Robotics curriculum was a collaborative effort of multiple universities and drew from interactions with NASA robotics programs as well. Criteria for 4-H robotics badging will be drawn from the work and experience associated with the development of the 21 st Century (GEAR-TECH-21) and National 4-H Robotics curriculum led by faculty at the University of Nebraska.

3 C. Technology Issuing: The mechanics of issuance of badges in 4-H will be determined as the project evolves with an ultimate goal of pushing the authority for issuance to a local level. Initially, the project team will closely monitor and manage the process in order to help determine an optimum manner for issuance to occur. The process will reside in a secure online environment accessible by 4-H faculty and learners. It has not been determined that badges will be managed locally by a learner but there will be an e-portfolio system with a badging component compatible with the Mozilla Open Badge Infrastructure. Interoperability: It is anticipated that a 4-H badge in robotics would be available to learners outside of traditional 4-H which will be confirmed as the overall team develops the badging system. 4-H badges will be compatible with the Open Badge Infrastructure. Software and widgets: The FYFLnet project utilizes WordPress for creating learning community sites and will be considering various widgets and plugins for a variety of uses. Incorporating a sharable widget for badging is something that can be included in the 4-H badging system. D. Team (See Appendix A) The AU based FYFLnet team will direct its expertise in developing a private cloud system for use by young people to include a badging component compatible with the Mozilla Open Badge infrastructure. Team members include faculty Drs. Tony Cook, Extension/Outreach Specialist and Assistant Professor, College of Education and Cheryl Seals, Associate Professor, Computer Science & Software Engineering (CSSE), College of Engineering; doctoral & masters level graduate students in CSSE and the College of Education. CSSE team members work in the area of human computer interaction (HCI) which will help in design of the system. An Information Technology Specialist in CSSE, graphic artists, and other staff will be called on as appropriate. The team utilizes a multi-server system in support of its private cloud environment and will dedicate server space for the badging system. The AU Stage Two team will also work with the Stage One team in development of 4-H badges especially on criteria for earning and issuance of badges in robotics.

4 Appendix A extension and the For Youth, For Life Community of Practice The Cooperative Extension System has formed Communities of Practice (CoP) around a variety of subject matter (or content) areas. University faculties from a majority of the 109 land-grant universities participate in the CoP s. The CoP s provide information and technical assistance to Communities of Interest - or the general public - through an electronic platform. This comprehensive approach of providing the best resources from the land-grant university system is known as extension (pronounced e-extension ). An internet-based collaborative environment is provided by extension for land grant content providers (faculty) to exchange objective, research-based knowledge to solve real challenges in real time. It is a common online knowledge resource for the public. Multiple extension CoP s work together to provide a collection of live sites on a variety of subject matter. These sites offer credible expertise, reliable answers, creative solutions, customized answers to user needs, and more. See and For Youth, For Life Learning Network (FYFLnet) For the youth audience and the adults who serve them, a CoP called For Youth, For Life (FYFLnet) provides content and is designed as a learning network. FYFLnet coordinated by Auburn University--consists of a knowledge bank of extension content pages designed for youth, high interest area learning community sites, a secure online social learning network, and interfaces with social media as appropriate. FYFLnet recognizes that learning among young people requires a multifaceted approach that involves knowledge but also means of engagement and collaboration. Therefore, it includes: The knowledge bank of extension content pages serves as the learning resource and is developed by a youth focused CoP made up of multiple content teams. Learning community pages are intended to be dynamic and engaging for the youth audience and relate to high interest areas. These community pages--or sites--also provide a way to share what is learned with others and contribute to a larger body of knowledge and experience. A private cloud or network will accommodate learners with a private learning space, a learning or e-portfolio to save or record work and accomplishments, and a secure social learning networking component to accommodate groups of learners. Interfacing with social media across these three functions will further build community among learners utilizing the For Youth, For Life Learning Network. Also see a blog site for an overview of FYFLnet; and a live content site at: The learning community pages, private network sites, and the interface with social media are all in prototype status with an expected launch in the near future. Badging in 4-H and FYFLnet Robotics is a high profile curriculum in the 4-H community across the country and is an excellent first project for which to develop badges. The Alabama 4-H program supports robotics for youth through a number of clubs and school-based settings where robotics kits have been placed. Young people learn about robotics through the Lego Mindstorm NXT Robotics resources through the Alabama 4-H robotics kits placements.

5 Auburn University would engage FYFLnet CoP members in the development of a mechanism for issuing and saving electronic badges based on the attainment of skills and competencies-- as part of individual personal learning portfolios. A means of displaying badges in a presentable format for the learner and others would be a great feature as a new component or as an interface with another technology. A critical component for supporting a badging function would be a collection of criteria and protocols for issuing of badges that would be common to the 4-H and the land grant community. Auburn will collaborate with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as the content developers of the 4-H robotics curricula and other faculty from the land grant system to develop these aspects for a prototype. The FYFLnet, extension and Auburn are positioned to establish support for a badging service. A prototype would be a first step in the development and testing process with a focus on at least one content or subject area. The prototype would utilize the infrastructure of the Mozilla Open Badges project. Although robotics content, staff, and electronic infrastructures are in place, 4-H is in need of collaborative efforts to assist in pulling all of the pieces together into a seamless, workable system to award multiple badges in robotics based on pre-determined criteria. This includes the front end loading of information through the final award of badges to the individuals who demonstrate competencies and skills. FYFLnet Team Expertise (Auburn University Stage Two Team) The AU based FYFLnet team will direct its expertise in developing a private cloud system for use by young people to include a badging component compatible with the Mozilla Open Badge infrastructure. Team members include faculty Drs. Tony Cook, Extension/Outreach Specialist and Assistant Professor, College of Education and Cheryl Seals, Associate Professor, Computer Science & Software Engineering (CSSE), College of Engineering; doctoral & masters level graduate students in CSSE and the College of Education. CSSE team members work in the area of human computer interaction (HCI) which will help in design of the system. An Information Technology Specialist in CSSE, graphic artists, and other staff will be called on as appropriate. The team utilizes a multi-server system in support of its private cloud environment and will dedicate server space for the badging system. The AU Stage Two team will also work with the Stage One team in development of 4-H badges especially on criteria for earning and issuance of badges in robotics. In addition, expertise of the Engineering team includes Human Computer Interaction (design), system programming (development), web based development and usability evaluation. Among the team members there is technical expertise in the following languages/technologies: Java, JavaScript, HTML, Flash, HTML5, PHP, CSS, XML, Database and team members are versed in development in cloud-based environments and Adobe Captivate. Further, the CSSE programming & outreach group ( has been working with K-12 student and teacher groups since 2005 in the detailed training of K- 12 students and their teachers to utilize Lego Robotics to learn introductory engineering and programming concepts (e.g. basics mechanical engineering principles and basic programming principles). This expertise should contribute to the overall 4-H Robotics Badge development process as well.

6 Stage Two Proposal: 4 H Digital Badging Support The image below is a placeholder or draft of an image and should not be considered a final or usable version. There are a number of considerations that must be incorporated into an overall design for a badging system for national use through 4 H. This image is a general representation of what a final design might look like. Draft Image