How do I make successes and achievements visible?
Objectives and content of this instruction
If you have already created an OpenOlat course, you can award participants a badge as a reward for passing the course. These instructions show you how to do this.
Target group
[x] Authors [x] Coaches [ ] Participants
[x] Beginners [x] Amateurs [ ] Experts
Expected previous knowledge
What options are available for communicating successes and achievements to participants?
Overview
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In principle, performances and test results in OpenOlat are initially evaluated with points and displayed, for example, on the completed course element.
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Points can be converted into grades or other systems upon request.
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Evidence of achievements are confirmations of completed performance assessments, e.g., for tests taken, assignments submitted and graded, etc.
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An achieved goal in an online learning program can be rewarded with a badge.
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A certificate can be generated as a PDF file for passing a course. The criteria for passing can be set by the course owner.
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If a joint certificate is to be created for the completion of several courses, this can be done with a certificate program.
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As a course owner, you can award credit points when a course is passed. These credit points can then be used elsewhere in OpenOlat.
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Participation in a test can be confirmed with a test receipt.
How do points, grades, badges, certificates, and credit points differ?
Definition
| Points | Grades | Evidences of achievement | Badges, course related | Global Badges | Certificates | Credit points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic assessment system in OpenOlat | Assessment of performance within a course, conversion of points into grades | Course participants see an overview of the assessable course components with their respective current assessment status. | Digital badge within a course | Digital badge, independent of individual courses | Official transcript in PDF format | OpenOlat internal currency |
Purpose
| Points | Grades | Evidences of achievement | Badges, course related | Global Badges | Certificates | Credit points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comparison of results | Transparent assessment of performance in a course | Overview of current evaluation status | Motivation, progress tracking, proof of individual course performance | Recognition of achievements that apply across courses (e.g., institutional competencies) | Formal proof of course completion or compulsory training | As a reward for learning achievements and as a means of payment for OpenOlat courses |
Assigning
| Points | Grades | Evidences of achievement | Badges, course related | Global Badges | Certificates | Credit points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automatically in assessable course components (e.g., tests) and by coaches | Automatically, based on points earned and the defined grading scale for the course | Display is activated by course owners in the settings | Automatically or manually by teachers in the course | Assigned centrally by administrators or authorized persons | Automatically after fulfilling the specified criteria | for learning achievements or by coaches |
Content
| Points | Grades | Evidences of achievement | Badges, course related | Global Badges | Certificates | Credit points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| integer result value | Grade (e.g., 5.0) and points achieved according to the grading scale | Progress indicator, points, passed, certificate, certificate validity | Image, title, description, date of award, link for verification | Image, title, description, date of award, link for verification | Course name, participant's name, date of issue, signature/logo if applicable | Credit balances, possibly in different currencies (credit point systems) |
Form
| Points | Grades | Evidences of achievement | Badges, course related | Global Badges | Certificates | Credit points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Numerical value, visible e.g. after completing a test on the course module | Payment value, visible in the rate overview in the course | Table describing the status in graphics, numbers, words | Digital badge with metadata and link | Digital badge with metadata and link | PDF document for download, printable | virtual credit balance |
Usage
| Points | Grades | Evidences of achievement | Badges, course related | Global Badges | Certificates | Credit points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic method for recording results as a basis for the winners' podium, etc. | For learners as feedback on performance, for teachers for assessment purposes | For learners as detailed feedback | Shareable online (e.g., LinkedIn, portfolio) | Can be shared online (e.g., LinkedIn, portfolio); strengthens institutional reputation | Can be used as a formal document in applications or for archiving purposes | as a reward for passing courses or as a prerequisite for participation |
Usage example
| Points | Grades | Evidences of achievement | Badges, course related | Global Badges | Certificates | Credit points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results of questions, added to the total score of a test and the overall score of a course | Points from tests or assignments can be automatically converted into grades (e.g., 50 points = grade 3.0) | Display option under "My Course" | Participation in modules, completed assignments, gamification | Award for institutional programs, global competencies, organizational badges | Completion of a compulsory course, proof of further training | Recertification is only possible once a certain number of credit points have been earned |
Creation/Configuration
| Points | Grades | Evidences of achievement | Badges, course related | Global Badges | Certificates | Credit points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| By authors when creating questions and course modules | In the assessment tool for the respective course under "Convert points to grades" | Link to the transcript of records appears in the course if there is at least one assessable course element in the course | In the course editor by teachers | Through OpenOlat Administration > Open Badges > Global Badges | In the course editor, under "Certificate" in the course configuration section | within the Course Planner |
Points
By default, questions in tests in OpenOlat are graded with points. The points are then added to the total points for the course element. If there are several course elements with points in a course, all points are added to the total points for the course. Based on the total points for the course, a "course passed" grade can then be awarded, for example.
Grades
The final total of points can be converted into
- Grades (details are configurable, e.g., 1-6 or 6-1)
- Terms used for assessment (e.g., "very good," "good," etc., or A1, B1, etc. for language levels)
- Graphic rating (e.g., various smileys)
The classification and grading scale can then be used in the assessment tool.
Evidence of achievement
The performance records confirm that a performance assessment has been carried out (in tests, task modules, etc.) and can be viewed in the personal menu.
More about evidences of achievement >
Certificates
A certificate (PDF) can be issued for each course once the course has been passed. When a course is considered passed is determined separately by the course owners. Criteria for passing may include, for example, whether certain course modules have been completed or a certain number of points have been achieved.
If a certificate was also created with a "Pass" grade, course participants will find it in their personal menu. All certificates can be viewed there, including those that have already expired. A certificate can be given an expiration date and, if necessary, a recertification process can be initiated.
More about certificates >
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Certificate Program
A certificate program can be used to issue a certificate for attending one or more courses. To do this, individuals can be added to a certificate program within the Course Planner (in one course).
More about Certificate Program >
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Credit Points
Credit points can be regarded as a kind of currency within OpenOlat. Administrators can define different credit point systems ("currencies"), whereby the validity period of the credit points can also be limited.
Participants can automatically be awarded credit points after passing a course. The course owners determine how many credit points are awarded when creating the course.
When a certificate program issues a certificate, a determinable number of credit points can be deducted from the credit balance.
A prerequisite for recertification may be that a certain number of credit points have been earned beforehand.
More about Credit Points >
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Badges
Badges are digital learning badges that can be used to recognize individual progress. A badge is online proof that a goal has been achieved.
There are basically three categories of badges that can be awarded:
- Badges for a course
(for passing the course or fulfilling the conditions set therein) - Badges for a specific course element
(such as course badges, with a condition for a specific course module) - and global badges
(Cross-course, can only be created by administrators)
More about Badges >
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Test receipt
When evaluating a test in the evaluation tool, a test receipt can be issued that certifies participation in a test.
More about test receipt >
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Where can participants view their achievements and accomplishments?
All OpenOlat users can find the performance records, certificates, badges, and credit points assigned to them in their personal menu.
Points earned in a course element or course are also displayed in the course elements (depending on the default settings of the course owner), for example, when clicking on a test course element that has already been completed.
(Coaches can find the services in the assessment tool.)
More about the Personal Menu >
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Check list
- Were the tools for communicating results configured within the course? (Winners' podium, etc.)
- Should grades or other assessments/graphical symbols be awarded in addition to points?
- Have the necessary evaluation systems been set up?
- Are performance records activated in course administration?
- Are badges generally enabled by the administrator across the entire instance?
- Has badge awarding been activated in the course?
- Should a certificate be issued?
- Has a certificate template been provided?
- Should the certificate be issued for a single course or for multiple courses?
- Are certificate programs enabled?
- Should credit points be available?
- Has at least a credit point system been established?
- Should different credit point systems ("currencies") be available?
- Were course participants informed about where they can view their acquired performance records, badges, etc.?
Further information
For Owners:
Course settings, Assessment tab >
Course assessment with points: Sum >
Course assessment with points: Total and weighting >
Course assessment with points: Average >
Assessment/Grades >
Set up grading systems >
Certificates and recertification in the course >
Certificate programs >
How can I create certificate programs with the Course Planner? >
Badges in the assessment tool >
OpenBadges Administration >
Awarding credit points in a course >
Certificate program and credit points >
For Coaches:
Assessment tool >
Assess learners >
Assess tests >
Assess tasks >
Form as category rating >
Course modules for knowledge assessment >
Points >
Course Settings, Tab Assessment >
Assessment/Grades >
Assessment view >
For Participants:
Viewing performance records in the personal menu >
Viewing certificates in the personal menu >
Viewing credit points in the personal menu >