SAN DIEGO (CNS) - Student recognition will be going digital in the San Diego Unified School District beginning Thursday, according to a letter e-mailed to parents this weekend by district officials.
The recognition, dubbed "digital badges" are virtual tokens that will be awarded to students in grades 6 through 12 for various achievements, accomplishments, skills, attendance above 95 percent, a grade point average of 3.0 or higher, test scores and other areas.
"Electronic badges are popular among young adults, used by industry, and something we believe will support students as they enter the post-secondary world of college and career by displaying what they can do, as well as what they know," the letter said. "These badges can be collected over time and shared on social media and through resumes."
The badging system will be supported by UC San Diego Extension and other local business partners, and delivered to a student's "backpack" via e-mail through their Google apps for education, the district said.
Proponents suggest that these credentials herald a fundamental change in the way society recognizes learning and achievement, shifting from traditional books-and-lecture to a model with multiple knowledge streams, including new media, collaboration, interest-based learning, and project-based learning, according to the district web site.
"As records of achievement, badges can recognize the completion of projects within a traditional college program or acknowledge experience gained through community efforts, online learning venues, or work-related projects."
The SDUSD Board of Trustees was scheduled to approve the program at it's meeting Tuesday afternoon.
The district set up a web site with an informational video explaining the digital badges program and how to sign up at www.sandiegounified.org/badges.
