A scoping review towards the conceptualization of a digital Open Badges ecosystem in South Africa

Abstract

A scoping review was conducted towards supporting the conceptualization of a Digital Open Badge Ecosystem for South Africa. The scoping review intends to address the conceptualization of a digital Open Badges ecosystem for South Africa by: (1) Identifying the scope and range of available literature, and (2) summarizing and disseminating research findings. This paper argues that a digital badge ecosystem can accommodate, recognize and accredit all contexts of learning and learning outcomes to offer relevant and rewarding pathways for learners. Open Badges can provide the infrastructure to facilitate this recognition of skills and achievements. In the absence of specific skills accreditation for informal skills and small scale competency development that falls outside the formal recognized structures, a need to develop an ecosystem for South Africa that leverages Open Badges is identified. Albeit an emerging field, the identified studies addressed all the research questions and the authors developed a feel for the main areas of interest and range of available literature. A need to conduct a full systematic review has been identified.