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The Power of Recognition: Cities of Learning, Open Badges, and Island Ecosystems
tiistai, 4 marraskuu 2025, 09:00 - 10:30
West Baldwin Road West Baldwin Braddan, Isle of Man IM4 5EU, Isle of Man
The Power of Recognition: Cities of Learning, Open Badges, and Island Ecosystems
tiistai, 4 marraskuu 2025, 09:00 - 10:30
West Baldwin Road West Baldwin Braddan, Isle of Man IM4 5EU, Isle of Man
Lisätiedot
This activity will help you understand how the Cities of Learning framework can transform the Isle of Man into a thriving, interconnected Island of Learning. We will explore the global model and the powerful digital tools—Open Badges—that can recognise the unique skills and achievements within a community. Your expertise is essential as we explore how these concepts can benefit local youth and economy.
The Core Model: Cities of Learning
The Cities of Learning model is based on establishing a Connected Learning Ecosystem that encompasses local and digital experiences and recognition across life-wide and lifelong learning programmes.
It involves creating a local network of learning providers who share a common vision and strategy for a territory—be it a city, region, or island. This is supported by Digital solutions including a territory-focused platform, a Badge Wallet App, and the global standard of Open Badges.
The Heart of Cities of Learning – Our Values
Together with partners, we aim to make learning open, accessible and inclusive to all. We are committed to the following set of values that guides our work, actions and initiatives:
- Inclusiveness – We strive to create opportunities for diverse learners and learning providers.
- Openness – We promote open experience sharing and collaboration between partners locally and internationally.
- Diversity in learning – We encourage various learning activities, ranging from public and informal spaces to non-formal or formal learning as well as learning online.
- Open recognition – We value various achievements and learning acquired through life. We use Open Badges that enable us to value and recognise diverse learning.
- Democracy and respect for human rights – Our platform and learning opportunities provided should be in line with the main principles of democracy and demonstrate respect for human rights.
- Innovation – We strive to make use of the internet and the newest technologies to respond to the emerging challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.
The Island Context: Why This Works for the Isle of Man
The Island of Learning model has been proven effective in diverse island territories globally (e.g., in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Caribbean). The model is designed to address the specific challenges often faced by island communities, such as: youth unemployment, social integration, and preventing youth 'brain drain.'
Developing an Island of Learning Strategy
Successfully launching an Island of Learning involves a focused process that aligns with the needs:
- Research needs and map opportunities, connecting them to local policies.
- Establishing the Island of Learning Partners Network.
- Setting up and launching the Island of Learning platform.
- Capacity development for learning providers and populating the platform with learning and recognition opportunities.
- Driving visibility and promotion and ensuring ongoing support.
- Fostering International collaboration and learning opportunities.
The expected benefits for an island can be: Broader, more flexible lifelong learning pathways; a skilled workforce aligned with local industries (tourism, maritime); enhanced inclusion, collaboration, and civic pride in the community; and achieving global recognition as a leading 'learning island.'
Open badges make the learning processes and outcomes more visual, tangible and also fun. Most importantly it creates opportunities for a genuine interdisciplinary lifelong learning journey.
Open Badges – Recognition that Travels
Open Badges (or Digital Badges) are essential in assuring that learning progress is sustainable, recognisable, and shareable in the places that matter—especially for the Isle of Man's young and diverse population. They provide a flexible recognition system adapted to the needs of learners and learning providers.
Why Badges Matter in an Island of Learning:
- Familiarity: Youth are already familiar with badges on the web (from online games, etc.). Open Badges are a professional extension, representing competencies, achievements, and skills.
- Accessibility: As learning happens everywhere, Open Badges provide a tool that transcends the walls of traditional learning institutions, making recognition open to everyone.
- Adaptability: Recognition of skills must be flexible. Open Badges enable users to share achievements in online portfolios, CVs, and social networks, opening new life and career opportunities both locally and internationally.
- Impact on Learning: Badges capture vital skills (creativity, teamwork) that test scores often miss. They can be organised into badge maps allowing users to guide their own interdisciplinary learning journey.
The Quality Label – Our stamp of trust
The Quality Label is our promise to you. It signifies that a learning opportunity and the associated badge meet the high standards set by the Cities of Learning network. The Quality Label for Badge Recognition signifies a commitment to upholding quality standards in badge-issuing activities. By fostering a community dedicated to delivering quality learning opportunities and skill recognition, it aims to offer additional credibility and reliability in recognising and promoting quality Open Badge issuance practices.
What the Quality Label Assesses:
The Quality Label is our promise of high standards. It signifies that a learning opportunity and the associated badge meet the high criteria set by the Cities of Learning network, offering additional credibility and reliability.
What the Quality Label Assesses (Our Quality Assurance):
- Clarity of criteria: Straightforward.
- Evidence: Well-supported.
- Alignment with values: Values-aligned.
- Trustworthy issuer: Reliable.
National Momentum: The UK Context
The commitment to digital recognition is mirrored by national strategy. The Digital Badging Commission, launched by Ufi VocTech Trust and the RSA in May 2024, is addressing the UK's fragmented skills-recognition system. Its aims include:
- Integration of digital badges into all post-16 education and training.
- Development of a national registry for digital credential quality assurance and standards.
- Establishment of open technical standards for interoperability across platforms and nations.
This national focus provides crucial context, ensuring that the Isle of Man's local digital recognition standards will be interoperable and globally relevant.
Next Steps: Make Your Mark
You now have the full picture: the values, the badge technology, the quality assurance, and the vital context of our Island of Learning model.
Right then, let's get you badged! Tackle the brief task ahead to prove your grasp of these core principles. Upon successful completion, you will earn your 'CoL & Open Badge Pioneer' badge—a trusted digital proof of your expertise. Ready to contribute to the future of learning on the Isle of Man?
(C) activity cove dwpcreative
Materiaali
Hanki aktiviteetti-merkki
CoL & Open Badge Pioneer Hanki tämä merkki
This badge confirms the earner's foundational understanding of the Cities of Learning movement, its core values, and its adaptation into the Island of Learning ecosystem. The earner also understands the essential role of Open Badges as portable, evidence-based digital credentials, the significance of the Quality Label, and how the local strategy aligns with emerging national recognition standards (UK context).
Criteria for Earning the Badge
The sole criterion for earning the 'CoL & Open Badge Pioneer' badge is:
- Active Participation: Full and active engagement in the morning activity, including contribution to group discussions and completion of the required post-session reflection task.
Tehtävät
Tehtävä nro.1
Issued by organiser or scanning QR code
To enrich your badge, you can reflect upon the following:
- Findings: What is one key piece of information or concept (a 'Fact') you learned about the Island of Learning model or the UK Digital Badging Commission?
- Feelings: What is one word or short phrase that describes how you felt about the potential for Open Badges on the Isle of Man?
- Future: What is one practical action you might take or investigate in your work next week as a result of this session?
Sijainti
West Baldwin Road West Baldwin Braddan, Isle of Man IM4 5EU, Isle of Man
Järjestäjät
Network of Cities and Regions of Learning
Badge issuer recognized with
Badgecraft isännöi tätä alustaa ja kehittää sitä yhdessä johtavien koulutusorganisaatioiden kanssa. Euroopan unionin Erasmus+ -ohjelmasta myönnettiin osarahoitusta tämän foorumin ensimmäisen version rakentamiseen. Ota yhteyttä support@badgecraft.eu.
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