Digital Badges: A Pilot Study of Employer Perceptions

Digital badges are becoming increasingly popular as a way to document both formal and informal learning. For badges to be valuable, employers must recognize them as such. As individuals consider working towards badges to document their training and learning, there is a need to determine their current value and worth in the current job market and their application to human performance technology. This research will discuss the results of a survey of employers in Northwest Ohio, who were asked their opinions on their current practices and perceptions in recognizing employee’s professional development and performance authenticated by a digital badge. The survey conducted in 2020 found that more than half of the human resource directors felt digital badges would play an important role in hiring in the future.