Purpose

The concept of digital badges (DBs) as a form of microcredentialing has gained considerable traction in higher education and workplace settings in recent years. This scoping review aims to map the empirical research conducted on DBs in higher education and workplace settings.

Design/methodology/approach

The design of this study is a scoping literature review. This scoping review adopts the five-stage scoping framework proposed by Arksey and O’Malley (2005).

Findings

Based upon our review of the 45 studies that comprised this scoping review of the empirical literature on DBs, we advance a typology that segments the empirical research based on whether DBs are used as pedagogical tools (PTs) or microcredentials. The authors found some confusion regarding nomenclature, numerous theories offered to explain DBs and divergent findings that suggest room for further exploration of this relatively new phenomenon.

Originality/value

This scoping review of the literature helps make sense of the emerging research landscape on DBs. The findings suggest that using DBs as a PT or as a microcredential has implications for a wide range of stakeholders regarding promoting lifelong learning, upskilling and reskilling the workforce. With the financial constraints facing higher education in a postpandemic environment, understanding the impact of DBs is needed before making an investment in this arena.

中文翻译：

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理解教育和工作场所环境中的数字徽章景观：实证文献的范围审查

目的

近年来，数字徽章（DB）作为一种微认证形式的概念在高等教育和工作场所中获得了相当大的关注。本次范围界定审查旨在绘制在高等教育和工作场所环境中对数据库进行的实证研究。

设计/方法论/途径

本研究的设计是范围界定文献综述。本次范围界定审查采用了 Arksey 和 O'Malley (2005) 提出的五阶段范围界定框架。

发现

基于我们对 45 项研究的回顾，这些研究构成了 DB 实证文献的范围审查，我们提出了一种类型学，根据 DB 是用作教学工具 (PT) 还是微证书来对实证研究进行细分。作者发现了一些关于术语的混乱、众多解释 DB 的理论以及不同的发现，这些结果表明了进一步探索这一相对较新的现象的空间。

原创性/价值

对文献的范围界定有助于理解数据库的新兴研究格局。研究结果表明，使用 DB 作为 PT 或微证书对于促进终身学习、劳动力技能提升和再培训方面的广泛利益相关者具有重要意义。由于高等教育在大流行后环境中面临财务限制，因此在投资这一领域之前需要了解数据库的影响。