Canvas Credentials (Badges / Badgr.com)

Canvas Credentials at BYU 

Introduction 

Canvas Credentials, formerly Badges (and “Badgr”) is a system of awarding micro-credentials to students based on the Open Badges standard. What does this mean? 

  • Micro-credentials are versatile certifications, awards, etc. that are based on the needs of the issuer. They allow educators to officially recognize learning achievement shy of a full degree program or a more formal recognition. They can be as simple or as detailed as needed. 
  • Open Badges is a standard of awarding micro-credentials using digital badges. These digital badges are specialized images: The image is a graphic representation of the achievement / award. Embedded in the image file (but only visible when being viewed by an Open Badges- compliant application) are useful details pertaining to the awarded badge, such as the awardee’s name, specifics about the program, what the learner had to do to earn the badge, etc. 

Canvas Credentials is a sophisticated system of managing badges, awarding them to students based on criteria they meet while working in the LMS and storing the badges a user collects (in their digital ‘backpack’). 

Why use Canvas Credentials at BYU 

Teachers are not required to incorporate Canvas Credentials in their Canvas courses- Of course, the official record and recognition of course completion is in the form of college credit. However, some teachers may want to use Canvas Credentials to award levels of achievement within a course. (Yes, multiple badges can be awarded to a student within a course). In non-catalog courses (i.e. faculty professional development, staff training, etc.), badges can be awarded to show completion and mastery of expected learning.  

How Canvas Credentials Works at BYU 

The basic version of Canvas Credentials is available here at BYU. We have not purchased the subscription version of Canvas Credentials for use at BYU at this time, but plenty of useful features are available with the basic version . For full details on the features available with Canvas Credentials, please review available documentation at Canvas Community Links to an external site..  

Canvas Credentials works in Canvas using an “LTI,” or Canvas plugin / app. The app is used to detect when badge criteria are met by individual students, and badges are awarded to students accordingly. The LTI is also used by students and teachers to view progress towards badge-oriented goals in Canvas. 

An older version of the Canvas LTI is going away at the end of the 2024-2025 school year.  We recommend all users install Canvas Credentials LTI 1.3 for use in current and upcoming courses, preferably as soon as possible. If you are currently using the older version of the LTI, stick with that until you are finished with it- We don’t recommend using the new LTI in a course once you have begun using the old one. 

Outside of Canvas, Canvas Credentials users can access the Credentials website at Badgr.com Links to an external site. to create badges (as teachers), view badge collections they have earned. 

How to Use Canvas Credentials as a Teacher 

Setting-up Badges at Badgr.com 

Begin by creating an account at Badgr.com Links to an external site., if you have not already done so. Then, following instructions provided in Canvas Credentials Documentation Links to an external site., create an Issuer. An issuer is an entity in Canvas Credentials that represents the issuing authority awarding badges in the course. An issuer could carry the name of a school, a department within the school, or you, as an instructor, trainer or individual. Note: You can create multiple issuers with your account, and you can share administrative rights of any issuers you create with other Canvas Credentials users. Create your issuer(s) thoughtfully, in a way that will give you the options you need for the future. 

Also on the Canvas Credentials website, you will configure Groups and create badges themselves. Allow plenty of time for this: Creating badges includes a graphic element- You will want to make a great-looking design for each of your desired badges- or have someone else do it for you. 

Now it’s time to move on to the next step: 

Installing Canvas Credentials In Your Course  

Follow these steps to configure the Canvas Credentials LTI 1.3 app in your course, repeating these steps for every course where you would like to use Canvas Credentials: 

      1. In your Canvas course navigation (teachers, TAs and Canvas admins only), select Settings. 
      2. Select the Apps tab
      3. Click on the View App Configurations button
      4. Click on the + App button  
      5. Change the Configuration Type drop-down selector from the default (Manual Entry) to By Client ID
      6. In the Client ID field, enter this number exactly (you may copy and paste from this page): 170000000000727
      7. Follow and accept the prompts to complete the installation. 

After you have installed the Canvas Credentials app, you will see the app, titled “Badgr at badgr.com: Badgr in Canvas LMS” in your course’s installed apps list. You may need to navigate to another link in your course (any link will do) in order to refresh your course navigation. Then you should see Credentials listed as a link in your course navigation. 

With the Credentials link in place, you will be able to disable the link for students or place the link in the desired location in your course nav bar, as with other course links. Click on the Credentials link in your course navigation to configure how Canvas Credentials operates in your course. Your students (if you make the link visible for them) will use the same link to access student Credentials features in your course. 

Questions and Answers 

Where can I get more information about micro credentialing and Canvas Badges? 

Canvas Credentials operate using the Open Badges standard. Visit openbadges.org Links to an external site. for information on how Open Badges and micro credentials can be used to certify student learning. 

For information specifically on Canvas Credentials, visit Canvas Credentials on Canvas Community Links to an external site.. 

 

If you have additional questions regarding Canvas Credentials at BYU, you may send them to canvas_team@byu.edu.