Although, you are more than welcome to come up with how you would like to differentiate the badges from the learning paths, below is how we view them.
Smallest to largest
- Micro-course: A micro-course is a bite-sized learning experience that targets a single skill or concept, or perhaps two or three skills / concepts that are closely related.
- Badge: Badges are generally awarded for demonstrating competency of a particular skill or set of skills around a specific topic, concept, or tool. Usually badges are awarded for successfully completing a small group of related micro-courses.
- Learning Path: A learning path is a collection of themed micro-courses that are logically sequenced for learners to achieve an overarching learning goal. These are generally more comprehensive than a badge, and a certificate is awarded upon completion of the learning path.
See below for more information about each learning element.
What is a Micro-Course?
A micro-course is a bite-sized learning experience that targets a single skill or concept, or perhaps two or three skills / concepts that are closely related.
Notice in the example of how we have isolated some key skills required to use Google Classroom effectively:
How long should my micro-courses take to complete?
On average, a micro-course created by MobileMind takes about 10-15 mins to complete, but you districts may choose to create courses that may take a bit longer.
Ideally, these will include short videos (MobileMind uses 5 mins-or-less rule), and the learner will complete a challenge that is submitted for automatic or human feedback. That said, this can certainly vary to meet your needs!
The total time it takes to complete a micro-course can range from a few minutes to an hour, depending on the challenge task. For instance, if the challenge is performance-based (ex: Build a Google Site webpage for Parent Open House; Create a Slides presentation to introduce a Project-Based Learning unit), the task may take a bit longer than more basic micro-courses with a quick multiple-choice question.
What are some examples of micro-courses?
- Google Classroom: Create a Classroom
- Google Classroom: Add your Students
- Google Classroom: Create an Announcement
- Writing in Science: Intro to the CER Framework
- SEL: Using Forms for Student Check-Ins
- Strategies for Engaging Students in live video sessions
- Mandated Reporting: What you need to know…
- SAMR: Redefinition
- Nearpod: Creating an Advanced Lesson
- Math: Using Digital Manipulatives in Slides
- Doc Cams 1: Set Up
- Close Reading 101
What are badges?
Badges are generally awarded for demonstrating competency of a particular skill or set of skills around a specific topic, concept, skill, or tool. You can also award badges to recognize level of mastery, so to speak, based on the level of difficulty represented in the included micro-courses.
(Exs: Promethean Beginner, Nearpod Expert, Forms Whiz)
How many micro-courses should I include in one badge?
While this is totally up to you, we recommend awarding badges for successful completion of a small collection of related courses - or even a single course. We also recommend that you NEVER make a learning path and a badge identical. Trust us when we tell you this will cause a lot of confusion for your learners!
What are some examples of badges?
Example 1:
- Classroom Apprentice (consists of 3 micro-courses where we guide educators to successfully create a new Google Classroom, add students to the class, and create an announcement) Note: This badge is awarded upon successful completion of the 3 micro-courses in blue from the “micro-courses” section above.
Example 2:
- Go With the Flow (consists of 3 micro-courses where teachers learn the basics of teaching in a virtual environment.)
What is a learning path?
A learning path is a collection of themed micro-courses that are logically sequenced for learners to achieve an overarching learning goal. Leaders can set goals with due dates for learning paths, and even designate prerequisite learning paths if desired.
How is a learning path different from a badge?
Learning paths are generally more comprehensive than a badge and might work toward a longer-range goal, such as mastering a particular concept or tool, preparing for a certification of some kind, or fully understanding the basics or foundations of a concept. These are typically more robust than badges, as you can include descriptions, introductory videos, and more.
The example below shows a “Google Basics” learning path, which helps educators build the foundational skills needed to get started with Google Workspace for Education.
Can I award badges within a learning path?
Of course! Badges can be earned along the way as learners complete a learning path. However, we highly recommend that you NEVER make a learning path and a badge identical. Trust us when we tell you this will cause a lot of confusion for your learners!
For example:
- In the example above, the Forms 1 and 2 micro-courses are included in the learning path.
- Since we have created a badge called “Forms Apprentice” that learners earn for successful completion of Forms 1 and 2, they will earn that badge when they complete those two courses in this learning path.
How do the reports differ between badges and learning paths?
The report for a learning path is going to give you a little more detailed information about how much has been completed. For example, in a badge report, you will see who has completed it. In a learning path report, you will also see users that are in progress and how many courses in the learning path they have completed.
What if I have more questions or need help structuring my learning activities, badges, etc...?
Have more questions or want to schedule a brainstorming session? We’d love to help! Click here to schedule a free HQ coaching session with our educator team to brainstorm or plan for your teachers!