 What is a digital badge? Digital badges, also known as micro-credentials, are having a big impact on the way we recognize learning. These small visual representations highlight more discrete competencies than a transcript or degree. To understand the value of badges, you need to look at the big picture, which involves three components. Issue, Earn, and Display. Digital badges are symbols of achievement, accomplishment, and mastery. They recognize all kinds of learning experiences from those that occur in traditional classrooms, self-paced online courses and tutorials, and real-world learning experiences. Badge issuers serve as the enforcers of these credentials. A badge issuer might be an individual, a community organization, an academic institution, or a business. Individuals can earn badges from all different kinds of issuers. For example, a learner might collect badges for volunteering at a food bank, completing an online course, or taking a workshop on coding. The badge earner collects these badges in a badge repository, also known as a badge backpack. They can then take these achievements with them from college, to community, to career on their journey of lifelong learning. Once collected, the earner can display their badges as part of a resume or portfolio. The earner may choose to share a link with a badge backpack, which showcases all of their achievements, or they might showcase a collection of badges. They can also embed their badges on a professional profile, an e-portfolio, or a personal website. Digital badges have metadata that is baked in for the badge image. They are considered portable credentials because this data is maintained no matter where the badge is displayed. When an observer, such as a potential employer or admissions officer, clicks on the badge image, they can see detailed information about how the badge was earned. The Open Badge Standard, or OBI, was established in 2012 to standardize the metadata that is included in open badges. This metadata includes the criteria for earning the badge, standards, evidence, the date issued, the date of expiration, and tags. There are several benefits of digital badges. Digital badges validate all different kinds of learning experiences, not just those that take place in formal academic settings, prioritizing mastery over seat time. Digital badges make it easier to recognize and celebrate learning achievements. They acknowledge lifelong learning that can take place anywhere at any time. Digital badges make learning more transparent, allowing employers to identify more discrete skills and accomplishments of potential hires. Likewise, they empower learners to showcase their unique skills and talents, take pride in their achievements, and tell the stories of their own personal learning journeys.