SkillShops

SkillShops uses badges to help students demonstrate the skills that they've learned. Not all SkillShops have badges associated with them, but we plan to introduce more badges with the program and would love to hear your suggestions.

We use badges from Badgr, an open badge system that works across platforms and can be linked to social media and professional services like LinkedIn. Badgr is integrated into HSU's Canvas learning platform.

Canvas SkillShops

Everyone who completes a Canvas SkillShop earns the badge for that SkillShop. Once a learner has completed all of the requirements for that SkillShop, the badge is automatically awarded.

If you are assigned a SkillShop for a course but have already completed that SkillShop, you can share the badge that you've previously earned with your instructor by visiting the Badgr page for that SkillShop (see below).

Skilled Learners

Students who attend or complete 5 SkillShops and submit the Skilled Leader reflection are awarded Skilled Leader badges.

There are a couple of ways to find the badges that you've earned.

If you just completed a SkillShop and want to submit your badge to your instructor, follow the directions on sharing your badge from Canvas.

If you earned a badge a while ago and maybe don't even remember how many you've earned, you can look up all of the badges you've earned by logging into Badgr with your HSU account (detailed instructions for finding your badges in Badgr).

What are SkillShop Badges and how do I earn them?

SkillShop Badges are a way to show what you learned in SkillShops and how you applied it in an individual project. You can share your badges with instructors (if assigned to complete a SkillShops Project) and on your résumé as evidence that you are dedicated to learning new skills, but also that you can apply what you learned. Doing a SkillShop Project to earn a badge is a great way to practice using the skills you are learning and to explore how you can use them in personal, academic, and professional contexts.

You can earn a SkillShops Badge through three different paths.

1. Take an online SkillShop and complete the project in the online course to earn badges on specific topics.
2. Create Badges: Take one (1) SkillShop, one a topic of your choice and then complete a digital project that incorporates or expands upon the topic you learned about, or if you took a technology focused SkillShop, use that technology to create and share a project about a topic of your choice. 
3. Skilled Learner Badges: Take five (5) SkillShops with at least one in each of the three categories (personal, professional, and academic) and create a blog post.

I just finished a SkillShop, where's my badge?

To see a specific badge for a SkillShop, log into that SkillShop in Canvas. In the left-hand menu, you will see a link for 'Badges.'

On the Badges page, you should see a green check mark if you've earned the badge. If there is no green check mark, your submission may be awaiting evaluation or you may have not completed all of the requirements. If you believe you've completed everything successfully, let us know and we can check to make sure everything is running properly: skillshops@humboldt.edu.

To view the badge, hover over it and click 'View Details.'

Take a screenshot of the badge (be sure to include your Cal Poly Humboldt in the screenshot to verify that you completed it).

If you have any questions about a badge or think that your badge is missing, contact us at skillshops@humboldt.edu.

How do I find all of the Badges I've ever earned?

If you've earned a SkillShops badge, even if it was a while ago and/or don't remember which badges you've earned, the easiest way to find all of the badges you've earned by logging into Badgr with your Cal Poly Humboldt email (you can login using the Google account option and typing in your full email address (e.g. twm2@humboldt.edu).

All of the badges you've earned (including any outside of SkillShops) will show up in your Backpack (link in the upper menu). You can take a screenshot of your badge with your name and email to submit to your instructor. You can also click 'Share' to get a shareable link that you can include on a resume.

If you have any questions about a badge or think that your badge is missing, contact us at skillshops@humboldt.edu.

How can I take a screenshot?

How many different badges can I earn?

There is not a specific series of badges to earn. The number of badges available depends upon the number of projects you create You can complete as many projects as you like to earn more badges, the only requirement is that each project must focus on a different topic and a different ‘Create’ SkillShop than a previous project.

Do I really need to re-take a SkillShop that I've already completed?

If you are assigned a SkillShop for a course but have already completed that SkillShop, you can share the badge that you've previously earned with your instructor by visiting the Badgr page for that SkillShop (see instructions above).

What is the criteria for a project to earn a SkillShops Badge?

Depending on the SkillShop badge path you take, the project will have different requirements.

• For online SkillShops, follow the criteria included in the Canvas course to earn your badge.
• For Create Badges, you need to attend two (2) SkillShops, one on a topic of your choice, and one that is tagged as a ‘Create’ SkillShop. (Criteria for Completion tbd)
• For Skilled Learner Badges, you need to take five (5) SkillShops with at least one in each of the three categories (personal, professional, and academic) and create a blog post. The criteria for your blog post is outlined in the Skilled Learner Badge course in Canvas.

How do I submit my SkillShop Project?

Email your project to skillshops@humboldt.edu. Please be sure to use or include your HSU email, your name, and a link to your project so that we can review it. If you completed five SkillShops and want to submit your blog post to earn a badge, self-enroll in the Skilled Learner Badge course in Canvas.

How can I share my badges and what I’ve learned?

There are a number of ways you can share your badges, but more importantly you should share the projects you create as well. Link your projects to a portfolio you create, include them on your resume and identify the skills you developed during the work on your projects.

Your badges will be displayed on the SkillShop Leaderboard and in your Badgr Backpack. If you’ve been assigned an Online SkillShop and are required to share your badge with an instructor, there are instructions in each Online SkillShop about how to share your badge. You can also view these instructions for sharing a badge from a Canvas Course.

I finished my online SkillShop already and haven’t received a badge yet, how can I get my badge?

There are several possibilities of why you might not have yet received your badge.

1. Check to make sure that you have followed the submission guidelines and have actually submitted your work if this is an Online SkillShop.
2. If you are sure you have submitted your work it may be that we are still in the process of reviewing your submission or project for completion. We aim to have all submissions reviewed within 2 weeks.
3. If we have reviewed your submission/project and it was determined incomplete you should have received an email with feedback on your work.  You can still earn a badge if you make adjustments or corrections so that your work meets the criteria for completion.