Design principles for digital badges used in libraries

Digital badges give libraries greater flexibility in delivering impactful instruction to students. They serve as flexible, stackable microcredentials that sequence an information literacy experience across the curriculum. Design considerations rooted in learning theory have a foundation through which to drive decisions. Information literacy badges have unique considerations that need to be made through the perspective of a learning theory. This article elaborates on essential design decisions for information literacy digital badges and gives suggestions for best practices. Educational technology without intention may give students a shiny object to reach for, but it often lacks substance. Using the content of this article as a basis for your information literacy digital badges will strengthen the initiative and give validity to external evaluators.