Taking badges to school: A school-based badge system and its impact on participating teachers

While current research on badges typically examines the relationship between badges and learners' motivation, this study explores a badge system's impact on participating teachers. Through qualitative analysis, the data suggests that the badge system provides teachers with new information about students not readily available through typical school-based interactions. Additionally, while the badge system initiated new meetings and opportunities for teachers' joint work, the data did not suggest that these collaborative activities established a public practice of instruction for participating teachers nor did the teachers report changes in their instructional practice. The paper ends with implications and plans for future research.