A new digital badging program offers Cal Poly Pomona students, faculty, and staff a way to enhance their skills and knowledge through certified courses and activities.

The Innovation Incubator, which established the digital badging initiative on campus, and the Office of Academic Innovation, plan to get the word out about the program by hosting a Faculty and Staff Winter Institute Jan. 18-20 to introduce the program, provide insight from other campuses who have incorporated digital badging, and learn from an industry panel on it's benefits in the workforce.

"Imagine being able to earn, store, and share your skills everywhere. Digital badging can do all these and more!" said Priyatham Bazaru, a student worker for Innovation Incubator.

Digital badges earned at Cal Poly Pomona are organized in a hierarchy students, staff, and faculty can build upon to demonstrate the skills they have acquired. Prospective employers can verify acquired skills and knowledge at a glance, giving those who earn badges a unique edge during job hunting.

Pathways allow badge issuers to map out a badge's curriculum in an easy-to-follow format for learners, enabling them to see what they've accomplished and what they need to do next.

"Pathways provide students with the opportunity to learn new skills and earn multiple competency badges while on the path to earning a higher-level competency or program badge," said Ericka Olguin, senior innovator for the Innovation Incubator. "It keeps students motivated because they can monitor their progress along the way. It's like they see the 'light at the end of the tunnel,' and on their journey through the tunnel, they're learning new skills and earning addition badges that will make them stand out to employers even more."

The College of Science and Employee and Organizational Development and Advancement (EODA) are currently using Pathways, which they created to illustrate specific learning journeys within their programs.

Staff and faculty at Cal Poly Pomona interested in awarding badges to students should contact Innovation Incubator for guidance.

To learn more about digital badging, visit the Innovation Incubator's Website, or email innovationinc@cpp.edu for more information.